Lauren Hill and Leah Still have been two of the more highly Googled and visible figures for the fight against cancer over the last year. Hill, who passed away on Friday morning at 19 years young, made headlines for fulfilling her dream by playing college basketball at Mount St. Joseph University last year, but also for her tremendous work on cancer awareness. She was the driving force behind a million-dollar push to help fund cancer support and research projects, making many appearances and delivering as many heartfelt messages as possible before her death.
Leah Still, the daughter of Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Devon Still, was diagnosed with pediatric cancer a year after Hill received her diagnosis of brain cancer. The two developed a relationship, helping to lead awareness initiatives and become key figures behind the fight against cancer. After Hill passed away on Friday morning, the elder Still posted a couple photos alongside the following message, drawing some inspiration from former ESPN anchor Stuart Scott:
When you die it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you leave.” Lauren never let this terrible disease define her. She didn’t let it control whether she lived out her dream of playing college ball and she fought to live pass what doctors originally told her she would. Lauren left her mark on this world by showing people what it really meant to NEVER GIVE UP. So would I say she lost her battle with cancer? Hell no! Because of her fight and selfless act of using her fight to raise an incredible amount of money and awareness, doctors will one day find a cure for DIPG! It hurt like hell seeing the news this morning and i’m not even sure how I’m going to tell my daughter. In the past two weeks, two kids that I have met and develop relationships with have passed from cancer smh something’s got to give its not right #For22 #LaurenStrong
