Hello! My name is Olivia Murray and I’m fundraising for our longtime friend and former teammate, Kirk Williams Jr., who has just received the devastating news that he has DLBCL; an aggressive non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Kirk is a loved son, husband, father of 6, friend and fan favourite former pro basketball player [having played for the Windsor Express, London Lighting, Mississauga Power and Niagara River Lions as well as garnering a CEBL championship, NBL Finals MVP, Sixth Man of the Year among many other accolades.]

Facing a cancer diagnosis is terrifying in any circumstance but for Kirk, it’s even more daunting. As an American currently living in Canada without access to OHIP — despite having long applied for citizenship, living here as a tax paying resident for over a decade, and being married to a Canadian — they are now up against not just a life threatening illness, but the crushing costs of treatment as well.

Chemotherapy is essential for Kirk’s overcoming of this diagnosis, but it’s simply not affordable out-of-pocket, with bills racking up fast and having the physical ability to work. Without insurance or access to government-subsidized care, every treatment, test, scan and hospital visit comes at an astronomical cost. The financial burden is already overwhelming, and no one should have to choose between their health and bankruptcy.

We’re asking for your support to help raise $25,000 to cover the cost of chemotherapy ($19,200 on it’s own), medications, and related hospital fees. Every dollar will go directly to ensuring Kirk gets the care he needs to fight and beat this disease, while his loved ones get the time to focus on being present and supportive of him.

Kirk is one of the strongest, most charismatic, people many of us know — for years he’s used his physical abilities to provide for his family from entertaining basketball fans to building up a successful post construction cleaning company after retirement. Both on and off the court, Kirk has always shown up for those around him. He has always been there for friends, family and teammates in times of need and now it’s our turn to show up for him, April and their young children in this battle.

Whether you can donate or just share this campaign, your support means the world.

Let’s help Kirk focus on healing instead of hospital bills and grant their family the opportunity to navigate this with our return support. ❤️

With gratitude,

Olivia & Tyler Murray