'Give us a chance to fight for our lives' - Goodburn asks PM for more cancer funding

"Give us a chance to fight for our lives."

Tears rolled down Archie Goodburn's face as he implored Prime Minister Andy Burnham to invest more money and resources into brain cancer research.

The Scottish swimmer was diagnosed with inoperable brain tumours just over two years ago and he has advocated passionately since then for an increased focus on the disease.

"One of my dreams is that we see a future where brain cancer isn't the biggest killer of patients under 40," Goodburn said during the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, the 25-year-old made a direct appeal to Downing Street to help ease the "unbearable" suffering of brain cancer patients and their families.

"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," Goodburn 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 is unbelievable and so unjust.

"There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives. We are not seeing them the UK and it is unfair and unjust.

"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."