Brain Tumour Research campaigner Liam Bergin has died after a three-year battle with a glioblastoma (GBM).
Liam, 52, from Bollington, Cheshire, was in otherwise good health when, out of the blue, he was diagnosed in April 2020. He was given a prognosis of a year to 18 months. He died this morning, 26 June.
In a tribute on Twitter, his family said: “Father, husband, son, brother, friend, fundraiser, campaigner, counsellor, wine merchant, caterer, and general heart on his sleeve good guy, Liam Bergin has passed away this morning 26th June, aged 52 of a brain tumour three years after his initial diagnosis. Since his diagnosis he has fundraised tirelessly for research into this awful disease and found a whole network of new friends and supporters on the way. So many people will miss him, so many will remember him.
“Liam's life has never been straightforward and the last five years have been particularly tough but he has always strived to make things better, to sort things out, to find solutions. He has lived his life like a tornado for the last 52 years and will continue to help people through being a donor after his death.
“Liam's parents imbued in him the centre left values of social justice and looking after others. Sometimes he and we get that wrong but we keep trying and we always will. His children, his wife and his family will miss him desperately.
“So raise a glass of beer, or wine, or coffee or any of the beverages that he worked with over the years to Liam Bergin. And in the words of his beloved Billy Bragg, 'We offer up to you this tribute, we offer up to you this Tank Park Salute’.”
Liam, who was married to Jen, and dad to Joe, 20, Catlin, 18, and Esme, 16, documented his journey in a blog. He raised £45,000 for Brain Tumour Research through a variety of fundraising initiatives, such as a coast-to-coast bike ride from Whitehaven to Newcastle and a 100-mile tandem ride with Joe.
In March 2022, Liam and Joe visited the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). They placed nine tiles on the Wall of Hope, dedicating them to young people who have lost their lives to brain tumours.
Liam was told there were no more treatment options left for him in April 2023.
On his blog at that time, he said: “Now been told there are no more treatment options; my tumour is growing aggressively, and any treatment will worsen my quality of life. This moment was always going to come. I’ve had the same consultant since surgery, and I trust her when says she fears radiotherapy will reduce physical function or even send me straight to hospital.
“Since I was diagnosed, too many young people have died of this disease, the biggest cancer killer of under 40’s in the UK. Thank you all for your generous help in trying to find a cure.”
Related reading:
If you found this story interesting or helpful, sign up to our weekly e-news and keep up to date with all the latest from Brain Tumour Research.