Meet Will Wise, a 6ft 8in former basketball player who’s now bravely facing his biggest challenge yet: stage four cancer. After retiring from professional sports, Will started a new career in recruitment, ready for his next chapter. But one fateful morning on the London Underground changed everything.
As he headed to work, Will experienced intense sweating, a throbbing headache, and later, vomiting and the scary sight of speckled blood. These seemingly disconnected symptoms spiralled into the shocking diagnosis of stage four medullary thyroid cancer, with an additional tumour in his adrenal gland.
At just 32, Will found himself battling a life-threatening illness. But instead of succumbing to the darkness often associated with cancer, Will chose to transform his journey into a mission of hope. He’s founded the charity CancerBae, aiming to change the stigma surrounding cancer through uplifting and unique fundraising events. Will’s mission is simple: change the narrative from fear and darkness to hope and positivity.
“Most people hear ‘cancer’ and think of chemo, pain, trauma. We want to shift that perspective because your thoughts shape your reality,” he says. CancerBae is all about vibrant, positive energy, offering support and fostering a community that chooses light over fear.
Through three major surgeries to tackle adrenal, thyroid, and parathyroid tumours, as well as the removal of 65 lymph nodes, Will continues his fight. Though a cure isn’t possible, treatment can enhance his quality of life, a testament to his indomitable spirit.
Will’s story is a reminder of life’s unpredictability and the power of positivity. By sharing his journey, he’s not only raising awareness but also inspiring others facing similar battles to find light, even in the darkest times.