THIS IS THE STORY OF WILLSTRONG AS TOLD BY WILL's MOM, CLAUDIA (FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF THE WILLSTRONG CANCER FOUNDATION - EST. 2020 IN MEMORY OF WILL MANIATIS 2004-2020)

WillStrong was founded in 2020 in memory of my youngest son, Will, who is forever my inspiration to take on challenges and make a difference in this world.

Will endured all the horrors of treatment for his diagnosis of high-risk acute myeloid leukemia including clinical trials, bone marrow transplant and salvage treatment for relapse in hopes of bridging the gap until a better option was available. Will did everything asked of him and more, he was loved beyond measure, inspired countless people with his strength, maturity, grace and humanity during treatment and yet he ran out of options.

Will died at home, in the place he loved best, at the tender age of 15, an age when one’s life is at the threshold of all that is possible. Instead he is gone from us and we are forever gutted by his absence.

Will was so much more than a cancer patient and a statistic. He was intelligent, self-aware and intuitive. He was stubborn as a mule and could debate you until you had little choice but to surrender but also possessed a highly-sensitive and thoughtful nature. Will was an athlete and a creative soul, he loved music and making people laugh. He could recite every sports statistic and political fact you could ever want to know and then some. He was a loving son, adoring little brother to his two big brothers and a loyal friend to many and we ALL miss him dearly.

Walking alongside Will throughout his treatment for AML I became acutely aware of the need for more awareness and funding to advance treatments for our younger population diagnosed with aggressive blood cancer. During his last months on earth Will became an advocate for more research so that kids like him would have more options.

Will wasn’t able to continue his fight but it is my honor to step in and continue to work in Will’s memory through The WillStrong Cancer Foundation, dedicated to supporting research to bring more effective treatments to kids, teens and young adults with high-risk leukemia.

RUNSTRONG "MY RUN" EDITION

By WillStrong Cancer Foundation

RUNSTRONG "MY RUN" EDITION

RUNSTRONG for WILLSTRONG

Team Members