MEET ANDREW RHODES
Peace of Mind Foundation is honoured to have Andrew join them as a Community Ambassador. Read Andrew’s story below.
I have made a conscious decision to embrace life and pursue the things that matter most to me.
Adventure has become a way of reclaiming agency and showing what is possible after a brain cancer diagnosis.
Four years ago, at the age of 32, my life changed in an instant when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. What began as a routine ENT appointment quickly became a moment that reshaped everything I thought I knew about my future.
I underwent a craniotomy soon after, followed by months of intensive rehabilitation. Recovery was slow and confronting. Everyday tasks felt enormous, and there were long stretches where simply getting through the day required more strength than I thought I had..
During that time, I learned just how essential support is. Family and friends carried me when I could not carry myself, and during my recovery I discovered the Peace of Mind Foundation. Attending Peace of Mind’s Men’s Retreat was transformative.
In late 2024, I learned that my tumour had begun growing again. In early 2025, I began a treatment that had not previously been available to me, and it has made everything I am doing now possible.
Later in 2025, I completed the 350 kilometre MASSIV ruta through the Norwegian mountains, becoming the first Australian on record to do so. It was one of the most physically and mentally demanding experiences of my life, and also one of the most rewarding.
For the first time, I was surrounded by people who truly understood the realities of living with brain cancer. It was inspiring, confronting, heartbreaking, and comforting all at once, and it reinforced that connection is as vital as medical care.
I am deeply aware that I am fortunate to be physically capable right now, and I do not take that for granted. As part of the Challenge Brain Cancer in May campaign, I will be riding 100 kilometres every day for the entire month.
Through this challenge and my role as an ambassador for the Peace of Mind Foundation, I hope to raise funds, awareness, and belief, and to show that with the right support, people living with brain cancer can continue to push boundaries and live fully, even in the face of uncertainty.
