Unscripted with Spencer Lodge #360: Turning tragedy into purpose – Ashley Cains journey from losing his 8 month old daughter to using it as the catalyst for the fight against childhood cancer
This week’s guest is Ashley Cain, a former professional footballer turned TV personality, endurance athlete and advocate for children with cancer. The death of his daughter Azaylia from leukemia in 2021 inspired The Azaylia Foundation, through which he’s completed extreme endurance feats to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. More recently he has appeared and co-produced the BBC’s Into The Danger Zone which has received incredible feedback. He has welcomed two sons, Aliyas and Atlas, while continuing charity work and public engagement to further enhance the legacy of his late daughter, Azaylia
In this episode, we follow Ashley Cain’s deeply personal journey from his daughter Azaylia’s leukemia diagnosis, remission and tragic relapse, to the profound impact she had on his life. Ashley reflects on being blessed to be her father, her incredible strength and his hope that she is looking down on him, proud of his efforts. He shares how raising awareness of childhood cancer, now the leading child killer in the UK has become his mission, leading to the creation of The Azaylia Foundation and extreme physical challenges in her honour. We explore how battling through these feats keeps him close to her, his experience of becoming a father again and navigating the mix of guilt, joy and love.
02:53 – Background on Ashley Cain and Azaylia’s leukemia journey
21:45 – The power of having a purpose
23:45 – Life after Azaylia’s passing
26:38 – Childhood cancer: the no.1 killer of children in the UK
29:42 – Ashley’s challenges in tribute to Azaylia
47:25 – Becoming a father again twice in 1 year
01:11:58 – Dealing with public criticism whilst focusing on his purpose
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