A STAR Scottish swimmer with terminal cancer has given an emotional plea on live TV to Andy Burnham.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, Archie Goodburn called on Downing Street to help ease the "unbearable" suffering of brain cancer patients and their families by investing more money and resources into research.
The 25-year-old, who competed for Scotland in the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games and reached the final of the 50m breaststroke, was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours in 2024.
Since his diagnosis, he has been a vocal advocate for increased research into brain cancer.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the Edinburgh athlete called on the Prime Minister to "give us a chance to fight for our lives".
"Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us," he said.
"Please establish a national brain cancer lead and give us a chance to fight for our lives because the things that patients are going through out there are unbelievable and so unjust."
Goodburn pointed towards clinical trials which "could change lives" that are taking place in countries such as the US, Australia and China.
"We are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust," he added.
The swimmer continued: "Please invest and make the difference. I'm on my knees begging for – not just my own life – but for those of my best friends and those that are affected and the families around the country.
"This has to change. It's been going for too long and the suffering is unbearable."
Goodburn added: "I partly feel like why we hear so much about brain cancer and why the awareness is so poor is because patients unfortunately die so quickly.
"I have this prognosis which is slightly longer and it's given me this time to advocate – it's two years since I was diagnosed.
"I think when you're really backed up against a wall like that there's only really one way to go and that's to go and fight."
Downing Street has been approached for comment.
