Marshall Exler, 26 from Buckinghamshire, will use his platform of over 500,000 followers to raise awareness of the ultra-rare disease that killed Faye at just 24.
Sarcoma UK has announced TikTok Star Marshall as its newest ambassador following his extraordinary £97,000 fundraising challenge completed in memory of his late wife, Faye, who died from an ultra-rare form of sarcoma last December.
The 26-year-old social media influencer, whose emotional videos documenting Faye’s cancer journey have been viewed over 57 million times across TikTok, will use his platform of more than half a million followers to raise awareness of sarcoma – a group of about 100 different cancer subtypes that remain largely unknown despite affecting thousands of lives each year.
Marshall’s appointment comes a month after he completed a gruelling 24-hour treadmill challenge, walking 100,000 steps while watched by over two million people online. The livestreamed event captured the nation’s attention, particularly the final 10,000 steps which Marshall completed alone – originally planned to be walked alongside Faye before her death.
‘Marshall has already made an incredible impact in raising awareness of sarcoma,’ said Kerry Reeves-Kneip, Director of Fundraising and Communications at Sarcoma UK. ‘His determination to turn devastating loss into hope for others exemplifies the courage we see throughout our sarcoma community. Through his viral videos, Marshall has brought sarcoma into the public consciousness in a way we’ve never seen before – reaching millions of people, particularly young people, who had never heard of this disease. As our ambassador, Marshall will help ensure Faye’s story – and the stories of thousands like her – drive the urgent change needed in sarcoma research and treatment. The heartbreak is that with more research funding and greater awareness, we could give patients like Faye better answers, better treatments and, most importantly, better outcomes.’
Faye, a marketing executive, was just 23 when she first noticed a lump on her inner thigh in 2023. Despite being initially dismissed by doctors due to her young age, her persistence led to a sarcoma diagnosis in August 2023. The cancer was so rare that medical experts couldn’t determine its exact subtype. What began as a 20p coin-sized lump ultimately spread to 12 locations throughout her body, including her brain and both lungs, before her death at age 24.
Marshall, who has just over half a million followers on TikTok, first gained viral attention when a video of him and Faye shaving each other’s heads during her chemotherapy treatment reached 33 million views. His eulogy at her funeral was watched by over 24 million people, bringing the reality of sarcoma into homes worldwide.
Speaking about his new role, Marshall said: ‘I want to make a dent in the right direction to help raise awareness of sarcoma and get it known, especially among the young generation. Faye fought this cancer head-on and never turned away. Through this ambassadorship, I can continue her fight and hopefully help others facing this devastating disease.’
Marshall’s ambassadorship will focus on raising awareness among younger audiences, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis, and advocating for increased research funding into sarcoma.
