For Croydon-based musician Luis Vasquez, who creates music under the name Proud, creativity is a powerful tool for connection. While he spends his working days within a civil engineering firm, his truest passion lies in rhythm, expression, and the uplifting power of shared experiences.

Recently, Luis has taken his dedication to community a step further by launching a platform called The Mind Corner. The platform is designed as a welcoming space focused on mental wellbeing, real-life journeys, and the kind of inspiring conversations that help people feel seen and understood.

Alongside finding his voice behind the microphone, Luis has also been pushing his physical boundaries. This spring, he laced up his running shoes and took to the streets of the capital to complete the TCS London Marathon for Team Sarcoma, transforming his personal reflection into a massive physical celebration of community strength.

‘Talking is part of the journey,’ Luis says, reflecting on the freedom of sharing his perspective. ‘It is therapeutic to talk about it.’

In 2015, Luis was an 18-year-old student studying music in London when his older brother, Andres, began having unusual symptoms while living in Alicante, Spain. Andres noticed red patches appearing on his skin, alongside growing lumps under his armpits. Medical tests eventually confirmed a diagnosis of sarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

Separated by more than 1,000 miles, Luis watched from afar as his brother navigated the illness with incredible warmth and care for his family, always trying to keep spirits high. When Andres died in 2016 at just 23 years old, the sudden transition was a massive shock for Luis, who had to fly straight to Spain to join his family.

For a long time, the weight of that sudden loss left Luis unable to speak openly about his brother. But this year, he found a meaningful way to honor their bond through the language he knows best: music.

Luis released a moving tribute track named 19 May, the date his brother died, transforming his memories into a beautiful piece of art. He then brought that conversation full circle by hosting Sarcoma UK as special guests on The Mind Corner, using his platform to help others understand the disease and inviting listeners into a space of shared solidarity.

By running the London Marathon, sharing his podcast, and standing alongside Sarcoma UK this July, Luis is showing that even after the most difficult chapters, we can find a comforting, triumphant way forward.

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