A father of three with brain cancer hopes to set a world record by cycling further than anyone undergoing chemotherapy ever has before, to encourage fellow patients to “enjoy life”, while raising money to fund the fight to find a cure for all types of brain tumours.
Robert Seaward, 38, from Buckinghamshire, is on a mission to set a Guinness World Record (GWR) for the ‘longest bicycle ride while on a chemotherapy cycle’. Over the next three weeks, he aims to cycle more than 1,500 miles, while undergoing treatment for an oligodendroglioma which was diagnosed in January 2023.
The idea for the record-breaking ride follows an incident last week when Robert was blue-lighted to hospital with a suspected seizure. Thankfully, doctors found no signs of any damage and Robert was discharged.
The near miss fuelled the dad’s ambition to do something momentous to help to raise awareness of brain tumours and their indiscriminate nature.
Robert with his children (credit: Facebook/Robert Seaward)
Robert added on his Facebook page: “I’m doing it to show the world that chemotherapy is not to be feared. You can still live well and extend your life! I hope to inspire other people to be active while going through their own chemo cycles as it helps negate the side effects.”
Robert, who set off on his ultra challenge on Monday (20th May), is cycling along the south-west coast from Dorset to Cornwall, up to Liverpool, Manchester and Blackpool, before heading to Newcastle-upon-Tyne and back down the east coast via Norfolk to London. He previously cycled 200 miles from his home to Paris in October 2023 (as pictured top, credit: Facebook/Robert Seaward).
Before leaving wife Shelley and children Seth, 11, Finley, nine, and Esme, seven, at home in Marlow, Robert said: “My children were a bit sad because I was going away but I told them, ‘Remember, I’m doing this to help someone else’s daddy play with their children.’
“My children are the reason why I go through the chemotherapy and surgery, because you want to put a couple of years on the clock.”
He is hoping to raise £10,000 with his ambitious challenge for Brain Tumour Research and Brainstorm UK.
To donate to Robert’s fundraiser please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cycle-through-chemo
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