October 17, 2024
Local Student Haley Williams Continues Her Fight Against Cancer 1 Year After Diagnosis
By Kyle Coppola
Local Student Haley Williams Continues Her Fight Against Cancer 1 Year After Diagnosis
Haley Williams, a 14-year-old student at Trinity Catholic High School, continues her brave battle against leukemia, a journey she began one year ago at the age of 13. Diagnosed with a form of leukemia that can take years to treat, Haley has faced the grueling challenges of chemotherapy and hospital stays, but her fighting spirit remains unshaken. Doctors have set a milestone for her recovery, projecting that she will ring the bell to signify the end of her treatment in 2026.
Haley’s family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from the community, friends, family, and even strangers. The hashtag #HaleyStrong has rallied thousands, offering messages of encouragement and solidarity.
Last weekend, Haley was able to attend her homecoming at Trinity Catholic High, a bright moment amid the challenges of her illness. Dressed in a pink dress and crowned with joy, her presence was a huge bright spot. Haley has been unable to attend classes in person at Trinity Catholic High so it’s great to see her being able to enjoy parts of her freshman year despite the challenges to go along with it.
“We are humbled by the love and words of encouragement we’ve received,” said her mother Lena Williams. “The strength and courage Haley has shown this year is unbelievable. She was created to show everyone how to be courageous and brave during times of trial and to have unwavering faith.”
Haley’s journey is a reminder of the power of community and the strength of the human spirit. While her battle continues, her determination to overcome and the overwhelming support of #HaleyStrong give her and her family hope for the future. Please continue to Pray for Haley as she continues her battle.
Photo Credit – Lena Williams
Kyle Coppola was born in Newton, Massachusetts and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communications from Curry College in 2016. After traveling to Florida on a family vacation, he decided he could not get enough of the warm weather and made the move from snowy Massachusetts to central Florida 8 years ago.
For the last decade Kyle has gained valuable experience in social media content creation, marketing and sales, writing, video production, sports announcing and even broadcasting for local radio stations, such as FM 102.9 in The Villages and FM 91.5 in Massachusetts. Every year he volunteers at The Villages Charter High School as a play-by-play sports announcer for the football games as well as a public address announcer for the basketball games, including the annual Battle at The Villages Tournament.
Outside the office Kyle is a husband and father to two beautiful girls along with their cat. In his spare time he likes to spend time with his family, travel, play golf and swim. He is also a huge sports junkie and even bigger motorsports fan and loves to attend racing events when he can.