Enthusiastic new motorcycle rider battles cancer diagnosis to carry on riding both on- and off-road
A motorcyclist who battled through cancer has described how her love of riding gave her the strength to not only face chemotherapy, but come out the other side on two wheels.
In testing times, motorcycling can transcend hobby status into a full-on lifeline against the toughest of times – a fact Samantha Brooman exemplifies in full.
Brooman fell in love with bikes after visiting the Adventure Bike Rider Festival (ABR) in 2022 for the first time. She left the event hooked and quickly acquired her CBT and very own second-hand 125.
Less than a year later, she had upgraded to a full licence and a punchier Kawasaki Z650, called Connie – which would have been their daughter’s name were it not for failed fertility treatment attempts.
Brooman then purchased a Honda CRF250L, after getting hooked on the idea of trail riding thanks to an off-road experience with Phoenix Motorcycle Training at the 2023 ABR event.
But her world came crashing down when she received a positive diagnosis for a rare form of breast cancer in March 2024.
Despite the setback, Brooman was still determined to make her way to ABR for the third year on the trot and did so aboard her trusty Honda – having also ridden her Kawasaki regularly throughout her treatment.
“It was amazing,” said Brooman. “I’ve never felt more proud of myself. I realised at that moment, riding the trail on my own bike, just one year after gaining my licence – and with the added bonus of cancer! – that I’m far stronger and more resilient than I ever give myself credit for.”
“I’ve taken Connie to every blood test. I’ve ridden her throughout my treatment. I’ve gone to various places with her and Mike [her husband]. I’d say that being on the bike and being at the ABR Festival gave me the fight when chemo and cancer had stolen it all.”
Although treatment is not all over yet, Samantha is now officially cancer-free. In light of which, she recently upgraded her dirt fleet with the addition of an AJP PR7 – with plans in place to take the Portuguese machine back to its home country for a spot of trail riding in the sun.
