Help Faiz Fight Brain Cancer and Return to Coaching
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Hi, I’m Faiz. In 2018, I was living my dream as a high school basketball coach at one of Canada’s top programs. My life took an unexpected turn when I suffered a seizure. I was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer, astrocytoma. I was 28. I thought I’d be done with my passion forever, that I would never coach again...
The news was devastating, but I made a commitment to focus on what was in my control—focusing on health, working with my medical team against the disease so I could return to coaching and living my life to the fullest.
I made a recovery and returned to coaching in six weeks. Since then...
- Yao Ming hired me to coach the China women's national basketball team, where we won silver at the Women’s World Cup; the highest honour China has received internationally.
- Two players made the WNBA for the first time in their career after that summer of development.
- I helped four athletes represent Canada at the Paris 2024 Olympics
- I moved to Macau to coach their professional team, the Macau Black Bears
- I've worked closely with clients such as Luguentz Dort on their shooting - whom together we have twice increased his 3 Point Shooting % by 6%. This led to him co-starring alongside SGA to win the first NBA Championship in OKC Thunder history
In between all of these experiences, I’ve also undergone…
- Two rounds of Avastin treatment
- Three rounds of chemotherapy
- Ten rounds of radiation
- One major brain surgery, waking up in the ICU
Each step was a battle, but I’ve never stopped believing in the possibility of a brighter tomorrow. I’m reaching out because you can help make that tomorrow happen:
Recently, a new drug has been approved in Canada. I am looking to raise $25,000 to get started.
Why I’m Raising Funds
When I was diagnosed, researchers were working on promising treatments for my specific type of brain cancer (Grade 2 IDH Mutant Glioma/Astrocytoma). Today, those breakthroughs are changing lives. A new oral medication, Vorangio, has proven highly effective in breaking down and stabilizing the growth of tumors like mine.
Canada has approved this drug, but unfortunately, Ontario’s healthcare system won’t fund it for patients like me who have already undergone previous treatments. While the drug’s full cost is $25,000 CAD per month, I was able to secure a compassion clause with the pharmaceutical company, lowering the cost to $12,000 CAD per month.
My goal is to raise enough to cover the first two months of treatment. This will give me the opportunity to see how my body responds to the drug and provide precious time to explore future options.
Why This Means Everything to Me
This treatment is more than just a chance to extend my life; it’s an opportunity to continue living a life of purpose. Coaching, mentoring, and building connections have always been at the heart of who I am. With your support, I can keep connecting with the communities and people who mean the world to me, through my passion
For more information on the effectiveness of this treatment, please read this article at Global News.
Join My Journey
This journey has taught me the power of community, and I know I can’t do this alone. With your generosity and support, we can make this life-saving treatment a reality.
Any amount—big or small—makes a difference and brings us closer to the goal of the first two months of treatment.
If you’re not a position to donate, sharing my story with others is just as impactful. Together, we can give hope to others facing the same fight.
Please click below to donate and help me take the next step in my life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Faiz
Co-organizers (4)
Faiz Ali Ahmed
Organizer
Unionville, ON
Gregory Bourolias
Co-organizer
Herbert Lui
Co-organizer
Vino Jeyapalan
Co-organizer