Sarcoma Awareness Month: Life Goes On
For Chris Whellams, parenting is about creating meaningful milestones, even when life changes overnight. As a devoted father to his five-year-old daughter, Ivy, Chrisâs daily routine is shaped by a deep commitment to keeping a vibrant, forward-looking spirit alive in their home.
Following the death of his wife, Laura, from sarcoma, Chris found himself navigating solo fatherhood alongside his own grief. Yet, he resolved to honour Laura by doing exactly what she wished: choosing to appreciate life fully.
“Laura wanted me to enjoy life,” Chris reflects. “She told me to enjoy it, and to appreciate the little things that are right in front of you.”
Today, Chris brings that philosophy to his online platform, Dad Through Grief, and his fitness training. By taking on endurance challenges and managing the Laura Whellams Fund, Chris is transforming a deeply personal journey into a purposeful campaign to support others.
I love being a father and doing all these little things. I am sad that I am doing it alone, but I am so grateful that I am doing it. Challenging myself keeps me focused, and it is good for Ivy to see the best version of me.
Chris Whellams
Chris and Laura were childhood sweethearts, growing their lives together through university, travel, and marriage in 2018. When their daughter Ivy was born, they were thrown into the dual worlds of newborn parenthood and an uncharted medical crisis. Laura had noticed a growing lump on her leg, which tests confirmed as sarcoma.
Following intense radiotherapy and surgery to remove a quadricep muscle, the family initially received the all-clear. Laura, a passionate dance teacher, focused on her rehabilitation and learned to walk again with steadfast determination. However, the cancer returned, spreading to her lungs and spine, and causing sudden paralysis from the ribs down. At just 30 years old, Chris was a husband, a father, and now a full-time carer.
Laura died on Easter Sunday, surrounded by her family. Before her death, she prepared a profound gift for their daughter: a memory box filled with keepsakes and handwritten cards to guide Ivy through every major future milestone until her 25th birthday.
By sharing his experience openly online, establishing a dedicated fund, and taking on physically demanding challenges – including Ironman in September – Chris is helping other young parents navigate life after loss. He is proof that it is possible to carry deep, complex feelings while actively building a life filled with connection, milestones, and hope.
Chris is proof that it is possible to carry deep, complex feelings while actively building a life filled with connection, milestones, and hope.
Read next: Samanthaâs story
How triathlete Samantha Boswell rebuilt her fitness and returned to racing after sarcoma
A return to the podiumSupporting you and our community
Contact our Support Line
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Meet others and get valuable support and information for patients, carers and family members. There are groups all over the UK, online and for different people such as parents and those whose loved one has died.
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Whether you want to take on a personal challenge like Rob, volunteer your time, or simply share your story to raise awareness, there are so many ways to help our community move forward.
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About Sarcoma UK
We are the national charity for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer. We fund cutting edge research, campaign for better treatments, and work to enable earlier diagnosis so that everyone in our community can live longer and better lives.
About Sarcoma UK
We are the national charity for anyone affected by sarcoma cancer. We fund cutting edge research, campaign for better treatments, and work to enable earlier diagnosis so that everyone in our community can live longer and better lives.
