Epic 1,000 mile Tartan Army cycle to Germany in memory of dad who died from brain tumour

A Scots man is cycling hundreds of miles to watch Scotland at the European Championships in Germany in memory of his dad who died from a brain tumour.

Alan Thompson, 71, from Edinburgh, sadly died in November 2023 just 11 weeks after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM).

Now, his son, Alex Schweitzer-Thompson, 40, and a dozen of the Tartan Army will set off tomorrow, Friday June 14, from the Royal Mile in Edinburgh for a 327-mile cycle to Cologne. The party will arrive on Wednesday June 19, just in time for Scotland’s clash with Switzerland.

They are aiming to raise a total of £10,000 for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

Alex, dad to two young children, said: "My Dad was a massive football fan and some of our best footballing memories came from watching the Scotland teams of recent years. But, having watched every home match of Euro 2024 qualifying together, he passed away soon afterwards.

"Having planned to go to Germany with him, I thought the best way to preserve his memory would be to travel there with others who held him dear and to take on a challenge that will help raise funds towards research into a horrible disease that affects so many families."

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer yet, just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease since records began in 2002.

While walking the West Highland Way in September 2023, Alan experienced problems with his right leg. He went to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where a scan revealed he had a brain tumour.

Shortly after, Alan, who played five-a-side football twice a week, started to suffer from seizures. He spent the next three months in Ellen’s Glen House in Edinburgh until he died on 26 November 2023.

Alex said: “ Dad was such a fit and healthy person who was in the prime of his life. He lived life like he was a 40 year old. I knew nothing about brain tumours, so Dad’s diagnosis was devastating, it was a hugely emotional time for the whole family. I hope we can generate as much money as possible for a brilliant charity to enable them to fund research to help find a cure for brain tumours.”

Ashley McWilliams, community development manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “This is such a fantastic challenge, and it’s a fitting way to remember Alan who was football mad. We’re really grateful to Alex and his friends and we wish them the best of luck. With one in three people knowing someone affected by a brain tumour, Alan’s story is, sadly, not unique. Brain tumours kill more men under 70 than prostate cancer. We’re determined to change that, but we can’t do it alone. Together we will find a cure.”

Brain Tumour Research funds sustainable research at dedicated centres in the UK. It also campaigns for the Government and 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.

To donate to Alex’s GoFundMe page, visit: gofundme.com/f/iwouldbike300miles

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