A Team GB hero broke down in tears on BBC Breakfast while speaking directly to Andy Burnham13:05, 04 Aug 2026Commonwealth Games star Archie Goodburn was moved to tears live on BBC Breakfast as he made a heartfelt plea to Prime Minister Andy Burnham to pour more funding and resources into brain cancer research. The swimmer, 25, was diagnosed with a rare inoperable cancer just over two years ago after doctors discovered a number of oligodendrogliomas on his brain.‌The condition is terminal and he may never reach his 40s. Yet, that has done nothing to dampen Goodburn's determination to pursue his ambitions while continuing to passionately raise awareness. He's represented Great Britain internationally and was one of the major talking points of the Commonwealth Games.‌The Scot took part in the 50m breaststroke final last week, finishing seventh. He was hailed as an inspiration by fellow racers and appeared on BBC Breakfast just days later.‌On Tuesday morning, he spoke about the new Rare Cancers Bill and delivered an emotional message to newly-appointed PM Burnham, calling for greater investment in advancing cancer treatment across the UK.JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook pageGoodburn began to well up and tremble as he asked which camera was broadcasting live, before staring directly down the lens and making a personal appeal to Downing Street to help alleviate the "unbearable" suffering endured by brain cancer patients and their loved ones.‌He said: "So Andy Burnham, if you believe and you want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us. Please establish a national brain cancer lead and give us a chance to fight for our lives because honestly, the things that patients are going through out there is just unbelievable and so unjust."There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives, and we are not seeing them in the UK, and it is unfair and unjust. So please, please invest and make the difference because I'm on my knees begging for not just my own life but those of my best friends and those who are affected and the families all around the country.‌"This has to change. It's been going on for too long and the suffering is unbearable. I'm sorry. The Rare Cancers Bill is not going to be enough. It is a step in the right direction, but it is not going to cover, it's not going to make the changes we need."In recent years, ground-breaking treatments have emerged with the capacity to save lives. Most significant in Goodburn's situation was Vorasidenib, a breakthrough treatment which enabled him to postpone the possibility of chemotherapy and fulfil his ambitions of racing in the pool.Goodburn had started off by saying: "What's frustrating, and we welcome the Rare Cancers Bill, but that Rare Cancers Bill we truly do not believe is going to be enough to make the changes.Article continues below"The Rare Cancers Bill covers 14 different types of cancers, rare cancers. Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it's not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes. It is extremely deadly."Yes, it's rare, but it's extremely deadly. This frustrates me immensely. And the Rare Cancers Bill establishes two new positions, a clinical lead and a research lead. These two roles are part-time across 14 different types of cancers, and they accumulate to 36 days a year."Those two roles to cover 14 different types of cancers to try and change the landscape of treatment. I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer."