Beloved broadcaster Dylan Willows, affectionately known as Big D, passed away early Wednesday due to complications from cancer at the age of 45.
Willows co-hosted the morning show at Victoria's The Zone radio station for 16 years and was diagnosed with Stage 4 uveal melanoma, a rare form of ocular cancer, in December.
The Claremont Secondary graduate stepped down from his role on February 15, acknowledging the challenging fight ahead.
"Despite the tremendous efforts from myself, my family, and the incredible team at BC Cancer, the treatment isn’t working as we had hoped," Willows shared with listeners during his final broadcast.
In March, he attended two sold-out tribute concerts at the Royal Theatre in his honor, featuring bands he had championed throughout his career. These were his last public appearances.
Willows spent nearly two decades at the modern rock radio station, becoming one of the city's most beloved media personalities and a tireless supporter of its arts and culture community.
Born in Yellowknife, N.W.T., Willows moved to Victoria with his family during his elementary school years and always considered the city his hometown. He began his radio career in Vancouver and, despite opportunities to return to the larger city with a higher profile and better salary, he chose to remain in Victoria.
Diagnosed at 25 with uveal melanoma, a rare ocular cancer affecting approximately five in every million people annually, Willows lost his left eye to the disease but was deemed cancer-free after five years.
He turned to advocacy as a form of therapy, openly discussing his battle with cancer on air.
In 2008, he joined the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock team, and many of his fundraising efforts for The Zone have supported similar charities.
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