Haley Williams

Sixteen-year-old Haley Williams knows what she wants to do with her life: help children facing the disease she fought herself.

Haley was 13 when she was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The diagnosis meant hospital stays, treatment and stepping away from the parts of life that made her feel most like herself.

“I would say, for me, the hardest part was having to quit dance and not seeing all my friends at school,” Haley says. “And also losing my hair.”

She found comfort from the doctors and nurses at UF Health Shands Hospital, whom she came to see as family. She is also appreciative of the support of her biological family, especially her sister, who often left school and went straight to the hospital to visit on many days. That meant the world to Haley.

Haley is now in remission and back to dancing contemporary, jazz and ballet. But she has not left the cancer community behind. Instead, the Trinity Catholic High School junior is using her story to raise awareness, support research and encourage other young patients.

As a member of the Children’s Miracle Network Dance Marathon miracle family, Haley visits high schools and colleges to share her experience and inspire students to raise money. She and her friend Isabella also organized a volleyball tournament that generated $1,500 for Children’s Miracle Network.

Earlier this year, Haley joined Sister Hazel lead singer Ken Block onstage for a Lyrics for Life fundraiser. Block created the nonprofit after losing his younger brother to the type of cancer Haley had. Money raised supports childhood cancer research, including work at UF Health Shands.

For Haley, giving back is about more than fundraising. She makes herself available to talk when doctors or families reach out to her about a newly diagnosed teen struggling with treatment. Her experience allows her to offer something meaningful: understanding from someone who battled cancer and won.

After college, Haley hopes to become a nurse practitioner specializing in hematology-oncology. She also plans to remain involved with Dance Marathon, possibly serving as a team captain in college.

Her hard-earned message to others fighting cancer is simple: “I would just say fight as hard as you can,” Haley says. “There is truly always a light at the end of the tunnel and that’s what you have to focus on.”