Brian Lewis Battles Cancer But Vows to Run For Athletes

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – In a raw and emotional radio interview that has sent shockwaves through the regional sporting community, former Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) President Brian Lewis revealed a deeply personal battle: he has been diagnosed with cancer.

Former Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) and Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) President Brian LewisThe revelation came Thursday evening on the popular sports talk show Isports on i95.5fm with host Andre Errol Baptiste.

Lewis disclosed that he received the diagnosis in June 2025 and has been processing it privately with his family while undergoing medication.

“This is not a death sentence,” Lewis stated. In a stunning declaration of resilience, he confirmed that despite his prognosis, he will compete in the annual Marathon Challenge for the 12th consecutive year.

The event, a gruelling 26.2-mile run, raises critical funds for athlete welfare programs, a cause that has been central to his decades of advocacy.

“I promised my wife not to break the news,” Lewis admitted, “but circumstances got the better of me.” The circumstances, it seems, were a pressing need to turn his private struggle into a public plea, particularly for men across the region.

His voice firm with conviction, Lewis issued a critical message to the public. “I think the reality is that, in particular, in men in the Caribbean and Trinidad and Tobago, you need to get screened. Whoever it is, you need to get screened.”

He highlighted a dangerous cultural tendency, stating, “There are many, many more things where we try to self-diagnose everything, and we try to ignore things. It’s causing more men to die unnecessarily. Early detection is a critical part.”

Lewis’s decision to speak out transforms his personal fight into a powerful campaign for health awareness. Even as he and his family “come to terms” with the diagnosis, his focus remains on supporting others.