37-Year-Old UK Man to Cycle 200 Miles to Paris Despite Battling Terminal Disease

Published 10/31/2023, 7:30 PM EDT

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Diseases can be inspiring! Yes, that is exactly what has happened with a 37-year-old man from the UK. Well, to give a little bit of context, how many times have we thought that being a father is difficult? The entire pressure of our kids, their well-being, and other responsibilities feel a tad heavy on our shoulders. Most of us will not think of embarking on an entirely new journey after embracing parenthood. And what if we tell you that apart from being a father, there is also a story of a deadly terminal illness? Well, surely now, a new start is completely out of the question right? 

Well, not so for Robert Seaward. This man is a father of three children and is currently suffering from a deadly disease. However, that has not stopped him from trying to help others and begin a new journey that will help to spread positivity around society. Let us get ourselves inspired by the narrative of Mr. Seaward, who proves that the word excuse does not exist in his dictionary. 

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The new year started on a happy note for the Seaward family. Festivities and celebrations galore, as the smiles of the family members echoed around their Buckinghamshire house. However, all the frolic would soon come to an abrupt stop on January 30. A seemingly healthy and fit Mr. Seaward suddenly collapsed from what looked like a seizure. Promptly, an ambulance was called and he was admitted to the John Radcliffe Hospital, located in Oxford. 

The incidents that followed shook the very foundation of the Seaward family. Upon closer examination, the doctors declared that a brain tumor was the culprit. Not only this, the doctor broke the heartbreaking truth to the family that Mr. Seaward will have his time on Earth limited to a mere five to ten years, as per the Independent. His wife, along with his three children- Esme(6), Finley(8), and Seth(10) did not know what was next for them. 

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This is where the hero of our story steps in and takes all the limelight away from the villainous tumor, oligodendroglioma. Seaward thought to himself that if his time was numbered, he would do things that would positively help society. Thus, he hopped on his bike and took on the challenge of completing 200 miles on it to Paris. As crazy as it sounds, he got his bases covered. Seaward contacted Challenge Central for the smooth conduct of his tour. 

As this news broke out, the entire cycling community heaped praises on the superhero dad in unison. Now, after all the noise, how did his journey go? 

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Robert Seaward commenced his auspicious journey back on Thursday, 9 a.m. His starting point was Marlow, from where he rode his initial 100 miles to Newhaven, which is in East Sussex. However, to proceed further, Seaward needed to catch a ferry that would lead him to Dieppe, in Normandy, France. 

After commencing his journey on Friday, he was all set to successfully conclude his challenge on Sunday, in Paris. The approximate timing was expected to be around 3:30 p.m. On his journey, everything was not all rosy for him. Seaward shared that attempting to cross a large hill near Beacon, situated in Brighton was the toughest. To quote him, It was pitch black and it was freezing and I could sense the impatience of the cars behind me.”

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Seaward stated that this idea came to his mind after his successful operation. The surgery, which was expected to be 70% successful, ended up getting rid of 96% of the cancerous tumor. This gave Seaward a new chance at life and he wanted to inspire his fellow patients who are going through similar situations. Seaward has also raised £4000 for catalyzing research works in Brain Cancer. A lot of patients have texted him that his incredible cycling feat has given them hope and a new meaning to their lives. 

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Written by:

Disita Sikdar

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Disita Sikdar is a Viral Sports Moments writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed her bachelor's degree in English from Bhawanipur Education Society College affiliated under the University of Calcutta, she will soon be stepping towards pursuing her masters in English. She has experience working as a content creator and social media manager previously.
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Edited by:

Daniel D'Cruz