Billy Best to Talk About Running Away from Chemotherapy

Contact: Philip Montgomery
Phone: (713) 831-4792

Billy Best to Talk About Running Away from Chemotherapy

Billy Best, the 16-year-old who made
headlines last fall when he ran away from home rather than submit to
chemotherapy, will give a talk on the Rice University campus about
suffering from Hodgkin’s Disease, his decision to leave home and the
15 minutes of fame that came with it.

Best will speak at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, April 17, in the Hanszen
College commons. Hanszen College is located inside Entrance 5 on
South Main Street, between MacGregor and University Boulevard.

Best caught the eye of the media when he refused further painful
chemotherapy treatments. He sold his possessions, including a guitar
amplifier and his soccer shoes, bought a bus ticket for Louisiana
and left his home in Norwell, Mass. Eventually, he arrived in
Houston last fall with less than $300 and his prized skateboard. He
lived in abandoned buildings in Houston until fellow skateboarders
took him in. After seeing his parents on television plea for him to
telephone, Best called home and was reunited with his family. He is
now in full remission and has not resorted to chemotherapy.

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