A 16-year-old from Bournemouth is preparing to cycle from London to Paris in memory of his uncle, who died of a glioblastoma brain tumour last March.
Luis Cummings is set to cover almost 400 miles in aid of Brain Tumour Research, inspired by his uncle Paul, who died at the age of 69 from brain cancer. Luis said: “My uncle’s diagnosis came as a shock to us all, and has been incredibly difficult to come to terms with. To see such a respected gentleman and devoted family man slowly slip away was heartbreaking. He leaves a void in the family that can never be filled.”
Paul (below) was diagnosed in June 2023 after loved ones noticed changes in his memory. Due to the tumour’s position within his brain, he was unable to undergo surgery and died less than a year later.
This year, Luis who has just completed his GCSEs, is “upping his game” with the gruelling five-day cycle challenge, starting on 10ᵗʰ September. Luis is the youngest of a 50-person team completing the trek, and will begin his journey from London to Dover then to France via ferry – cycling on to Paris.
He explained: “The farthest I’ve cycled for Brain Tumour Research was from Wales to Dorset, which was just more than 100 miles, so this is a new challenge for me.
“We need more treatment options for people diagnosed with brain tumours. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy don't work for everyone; they didn’t for my uncle Paul. That’s why research is so important. Without more funding, we won’t see progress. We need to invest in finding better treatments.”
You can support Luis’ cycling fundraiser and help fund vital research into a brain cancer cure.
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