A COURAGEOUS dad battling a terminal brain tumour has raised £45,000 to help save lives.
Tributes have been paid to Liam Bergin who fundraised tirelessly after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GMB) brain tumour in April, 2020.
The dad-of-three’s diagnosis came after a seizure at home, following a 90km ride.
Sadly, the 52-year-old, who recently moved from Knutsford to Bollington, died on June 26.
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 aged 52 of a brain tumour three years after his initial diagnosis.
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“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, who was married to Jen, and dad to Joe, 20, Caitlin, and Esme, 16, embarked on various phenomenal challenges.
Liam completed a coast-to-coast bike ride from Whitehaven to Newcastle and a 100-mile tandem with son Joe.
Joe and Manchester University friend Pat Brogan conquered the iconic Tour de France mountain, which has 21 bends over 13 kilometres.
Joe said: "It's legendary. It was really tough and my legs were crying, but it was great once we got to the top.
"Dad always wanted to do this but he never got the chance so I wanted to take the opportunity to raise money and awareness of this devastating disease."
In March 2022, Liam and Joe visited the Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London.
They placed nine tiles on the Wall of Hope, dedicating them to young people who have lost their lives to brain tumours.
The tiles symbolise the number of days of research sponsored.
Altogether, Liam has sponsored more than 16 days of research.
His grit, determination and perseverance to help others during his illness has left a lasting legacy.
His family said: “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, wine, or coffee or any of the beverages that he worked with over the years to Liam.
“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, head of catering at the University of Manchester, underwent gruelling brain surgery at Salford Hospital to ‘debulk’ the tumour.
Surgery was followed by 30 radiotherapy sessions at The Christie in Manchester.
Liam was given the devasting news that no more treatment options left for him in April 2023.
On his blog, which documented his journey with a brain tumour, Liam said: “It’s been nearly three years since I was given my prognosis.
“I’ve doubled the time the doctors expected for me, and feel being healthy and active in the community has been a big part of this.
“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.
“My senses now seem to be escaping me one by one, and I’m finding movement and thought difficult and exhausting which is very annoying.
“This includes not being able to manipulate the left-hand side of my body, which is fairly standard when you have a tumour on the right-hand side of your brain.
“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.”
Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer, yet just 1 per cent of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to brain tumours.
Hugh Adams, head of stakeholder relations for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Liam was a big part of the Brain Tumour Research family, and we’re all devastated to hear he has passed away after no more treatment options were available to him.
“He was a tireless campaigner and did so much to raise money and awareness to help tackle this devastating disease.
“We worked with Liam for a long time and we’re so grateful for everything he has done for our cause.
“Liam’s story is a stark reminder of just how little is known about brain tumours, and why more research is so desperately needed.”
Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK.
It also campaigns for the Government and the larger cancer charities to invest more in research into brain tumours in order to speed up new treatments for patients and, ultimately, to find a cure.
The charity is the driving force behind the call for a national annual spend of £35 million in order to improve survival rates and patient outcomes in line with other cancers such as breast cancer and leukaemia and is also campaigning for greater repurposing of drugs.
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