Overview
- A public visitation and funeral were held Saturday at Shelton State Community College and were livestreamed by Magnolia Chapel South Funeral Home as thousands followed the service online.
- Will Roberts died July 23 after an 18-month battle with stage 4 osteosarcoma that included chemotherapy and major surgery.
- A social-media video in which Will asked for help accessing an experimental therapy went viral and helped connect his care team with treatment developers while spurring donations and prayers nationwide.
- Family, pastors, and community speakers focused the vigil and funeral on Will’s Christian faith and the example of courage he offered to strangers and friends alike.
- The family asked that memorial gifts be made to childhood cancer groups including the Aveni Foundation and Beats the Odds Sarcoma as local leaders say the attention could boost support and research for pediatric bone cancers.