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

This year will be bigger and better than last, and for the first time, there is a division for girls.

Will, a towering 6ft 9ins with size 15 shoes, has organised the four-day CancerBae Classic from August 28th-31st, at the University of Essex, Colchester.

The tournament will see more than 18 of the UK’s top under 12 basketball squads, including locals, Essex Charge, Essex Rebels and Southend Scorpions, take part in playoffs to find the ultimate champions. Girls’ teams include Essex Charge, Richmond Knights and RDF Eagles.

All the profits will be split between Cancer Research to help fund better and kinder treatments for future cancer patients and CancerBae, Will’s own charity which focus on changing the way people think about cancer.

Will, who calls himself a stage four cancer ‘thriver’, said: “The CancerBae Classic is more than just a game

“The elite teams bring the fire, every game is a battle and every bucket means something bigger.We’re flipping the switch on how we think and talk about cancer.

“The tournament isn’t just about hoops – it’s hope and resilience and a community coming together. The event will be filled with love and joy, laughter, hope and inspiration.

“We’d love for people to come and join us – enjoy the event and help slam-dunk cancer.”

Gill Burgess, fundraising manager for Cancer Research UK in Essex, said: “We’re really happy to see the return of the CancerBae Classic.  The 2024 event was pretty epic, but this year’s promises to be bigger and better!  It’s especially exciting to welcome the girls’ teams to the tournament, making it even more inclusive.
“Will is a great ambassador for Cancer Research UK and a powerful and optimistic voice for those living with cancer.  It’s so inspiring to see him raising awareness amongst young people in such a positive and empowering way.  It’s going to be an action-packed weekend!”
Until late 2022, Will, 32, was a professional basketball player, travelling throughout Europe and 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 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’m working 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 these tournaments is part of that. They are a unique opportunity for youth basketball players to compete at a high level, 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 2025 CancerBae Classic Cancer Research UK Fundraising Champions and will receive a trophy and medals. CancerBae Classic 2025

CancerBae has 8,500 followers on TikTok and 7,000 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 five surgeries so far, to remove the left and right adrenal glands, thyroid, parathyroid and 65 lymph nodes, as well as a liver biopsy. He is awaiting removal of lesions on his liver.

“Right now, I’m in a monitoring stage, then they’ll decide if I need chemotherapy further down the line. “But for now, I’m doing OK, I’m living my life and aiming to make a difference.”

Statistics from Cancer Research UK reveal 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.***