FORMER professional basketball player and stage four cancer patient Will Wise is bringing a national sporting tournament to Essex.

Will, a towering 6ft 9ins with size 15 shoes, has organised the three-day Cancer Bae Classic at the Essex Sport Arena in Colchester, from August 30-September 1st.

The tournament will see 16 of the UK’s top under 12 basketball teams, including locals, the Essex Rebels and the Southend Scorpions, take part in playoffs to find the ultimate champions.

The event is not just about sport, it will also raise awareness about cancer, a subject very close to Will’s heart.

Until late 2022, Will, 30, was a professional basketball player, travelling throughout Europe and Australia, most recently playing for the Eastern Mavericks in Australia.

But that all changed overnight after, without warning or any symptoms, he collapsed and doctors found all his major organs were shutting down.

Shockingly, tests and scans revealed Will had a rare tumour known as a pheochromocytoma, a tumour of the adrenal gland. This led to a further diagnosis of a rare condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2). This can cause tumours in the thyroid and parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, lips, mouth, eyes and digestive tract. Will’s cancer had spread to his thyroid gland.

The prognosis did not look good. But thanks to treatment, Will has fought back.

He is now back on the court, but this time as a coach, teaching the next generation how to play basketball. And he is on a mission to be a stage four cancer warrior, to change the narrative and be a beacon of hope to those navigating the challenging terrain of the disease.

Will’s cancer diagnosis changed his life in a split second. He describes the experience as ‘shocking, scary, spontaneous and amazing’.

While going through tough treatment, he founded #CancerBae, a movement focused on reshaping perceptions of the disease.

With research as the bedrock of treatment and survival, he is also backing Cancer Research UK’s aim to help people live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer.

Research breakthroughs mean every day, people are being diagnosed earlier, have access to kinder and more effective treatments, and some cancers are prevented completely. This all adds up to more moments that matter for people affected by cancer and their loved ones.

The American-born basketball player from Philadelphia, who now lives in London, said: “My aim is to not only raise awareness but also provide unwavering support to those, like me, who are on what is a formidable journey.

“Cancer isn’t just a word to be whispered in hushed tones. Having stage four cancer is far from ideal and it’s daunting. But knowledge is power and the more openly we talk about these things, the better.

“I want people to know you can live a good life with cancer. It doesn’t have to define you. I’d like to create a new, vibrant, colourful movement that’s fresh and exciting, that takes the stigma away. People like me don’t want those ‘cancer eyes’ – that look people give you when they discover you have stage four.”
This experience has taught Will to live life to the fullest. “I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but I can make the most of today. So, my plan is to stay present, embrace new experiences, and appreciate the beauty of life.
“And organising this tournament is part of that. The CancerBae Classic aims to raise awareness while providing a unique opportunity for youth basketball players to compete at a high level.
“It’ll be an event filled with fun, joy and laughter and we’d love people to come along and support it and the players.
“And it isn’t just about the games – it’s also about coming together as a community to support a meaningful cause. For these young athletes, it’s a chance to showcase their skills in an NBA finals-like atmosphere, build friendships, and contribute to a cause close to all of our hearts.”
Tickets are available from: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cancerbaeclassic
Teams competing in the tournament, will also take part in a fundraising challenge – the team that raises the most money will be crowned 2024 CancerBae Classic Cancer Research UK Fundraising Champions and will receive a trophy and medals.

CancerBae has 6,500 followers on TikTok and another 5,500 on Instagram #CancerBAE

Will’s cancer had no symptoms at all until November 2022. His day started in the normal way – a workout in the gym, a run, a shower, then off to work. But on the journey there, he began sweating, he was getting out of breath and he developed a pulsing headache. By the time he arrived, he began throwing up blood. His colleagues got him to hospital and by the time doctors examined him, his body was shutting down.

“My heart was operating at under 10%, my lungs have failed, my kidneys have failed, and it was looking dire. It was such a whirlwind because I literally never get sick, and I’m always in the best shape so it was mind-blowing. It went zero to 100. When they finally got me under control, they diagnosed me with a pheochromocytoma – a tumour on my left adrenal gland, which produces an abnormal amount of adrenaline.

“My adrenal levels were 50 times what they should be. The doctors had no idea how I was able to survive such a crisis,” he said.
But in another area, Will was massively unlucky. Most pheochromocytomas are benign, his was not.
He has undergone three surgeries so far, to remove the left adrenal gland, thyroid, parathyroid and 65 lymph nodes, as well as a liver biopsy. He is waiting removal of the right adrenal gland and liver ablation.

“Right now, the plan is to try to remove the affected areas via surgery, then monitor and gauge if I need chemotherapy further down the line,” he said. “But for now, I’m doing OK, I’m living my life and aiming to make a difference.”

Recent data released by Cancer Research UK revealed around 1.2 million deaths have been avoided in the UK since the mid-1980s, due to progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Over the last four decades, UK cancer mortality rates have fallen by around a quarter, after peaking in 1985 for men and 1989 for women.***

The Cancer Bae Classic is run in partnership with Cancer Research UK, Simply British Ballers (SBB), Basketball England, Astellas and IC-Resources.