Joshua Outland

So the option I chose was "in honour of a Family Member " but thats only like..... 25 percent of what it really is in honour of.

I first had an impact with cancer when I was a little kid back in my hometown of Clayton NC. My Daddy Billy Outland was a subcontractor operating and building houses hotels subdivisions condos all up and down the East Coast primarily in the Carolinas and Virginias. Anyways.... one of his partners and friends Riley had a daughter. Alyssa.... who was contracted with cancer as a little kid.... if I recall correctly she was actually BORN with cancer. She flashed in my head earlier today..... I wonder how she's doing now. I hope she's doing well. But yea.... not even 10 years old and already seeing cancer and the pain it brings. I'm doing this in honor of Alyssa.

Another old friend Deanna..... or as I call her "Saint Deanna" because of a huge thing she did for me as a kid in some of my worst days.... her husband was diagnosed with cancer and she started a go fundme for help. I chose to struggle for a couple weeks til my next pay day and pushed her over here goal needed to get him help. Im happy I did and happy theyre still together. I'm doing this in honour of them.

My Mum in Law Sharon is an amazing strong confident go-getter lady and a role model to me..... before I knew her she was diagnosed with lady cancer. I saw a billboard while driving home..... only 49 percent of ladies diagnosed with that particular cancer live even 5 years beyond the diagnosis. Shes one of the strongest people I know and so damn courageous. I'm doing this in honour of her. Mum I love you and am so damn proud of you. You're incredible.

I remember not long after I helped establish a (Carolina Panthers) Roaring Riot Chapter over here in Australia that I caught wind that a 10 year old boy was diagnosed with cancer.... right around Christmas time no less. My heart broke for them and (not saying this to brag, just telling the full story...) I parted ways with one of my most cherished Carolina Panthers Man cave items.... a full size NFL helmet autographed by several top Carolina Panthers players.... I set up a donation via FB and did a raffle on a live video and sold the helmet and gave his daddy the funds raised... just under 1000 dollars. Sadly he passed away not long after ......I'm doing this to help honor him

My grandpa in law Phil..... oh damn I still miss him. Every time we would visit we would always hang out watching NRL or he would work on making these amazing wooden model ships and we would just talk and listen to old country songs and just have a great time in his garage slash man cave. He was only given months to live... he found God, found spirituality and lasted damn near 5 more years. Miss you Phil. I'm doing this in honor of him. 

My grandma on my Mamas side, Shirley, passed away.... earlier this year. I wish things had ended on a better note between us. I think she would be happy to see I've gotten in touch with my spiritual side and am a proud Christian. She was devout to a fault. Even in the throes of dementia, heart disease, and cancer. Even though things didnt end good.... I'm doing this to honor her. Love you.... miss you Grandma. 

In early 2024.... wow 2 years already now..... but anyways. In February 2024 I went to a doctor to get my next batch of medicine and had to get what I thought was a routine blood test. Out of nowhere the doctor told me point blank. "You have a very low number of white blood cells. I think you have cancer." ....I was 38. That sent me to a very dark place, I was angry scared sad depressed anxious..... living in fear and just totally stressed out checked out, one foot basically already in the damn grave. I broke down and reached out to 2 very important people to me.... both then and even more now. Katie and Simon. They dropped anything else and went with me to the ultrasound and x ray. Then to keep me positive (oh man what a task that must've been) they took me out to breakfast and kept my spirits up. Thank God the tests revealed I do have a low number of white blood cells..... but as a result of Hashimotos and Hypothyroidism. That sucks.... yes and it means I get sick very easy.. but ill take that over the fear any day. Ill take that over cancer any day. Im doing this to honor then me and to honor who I have become as a result of that. Im doing it to honor Katie and Simon too. I can't thank yall enough and I love yall.

My NFL team the Carolina Panthers.  We had a great undersized LineBacker named Sam Mills who retired and then became a Defensive Coach for us. He was diagnosed with an extremely aggressive intestinal cancer just prior to the 2003 season and given only months to live. The Panthers went on a tear that year and finished with an 11-5 record and playoff berth. Just before the first playoff game that year Sam Mills led a team huddle and spoke from the heart. 

There's someone at my career ive kinda known off and on a good while now. Shes strong and so brave and a great person. She has great energy and I'm not the best with spoken words so I doubt Id ever say this face to face to her. Several of us know her but out of respect to her I wont say her name here. She's gone away for a bit and her bravery is off the charts.  When you return we're throwing you a welcome back party even if I gotta pay for it myself. You're amazing. I'm doing this and joined the team to honour you.

My Daddy has a life long friend, Johnny Wayne. Ive known him since I was a baby. He went away a long time and him and my Daddy found each other after damn near all his family passed. My Daddy and Mama are basically the only family he has now. I saw when I returned to America for Christmas in 2024 that they had taken him in and he has a make do house out back of their house where he and his dog live comfortably. I'm doing this to honor him, and them, and their life-long friendship.

I started going to church again for the first time in almost 25 years or so.... in March of this year. I remember I had a lot of fear, doubt and worry and I was honestly feeling a little overwhelmed and like maybe I didnt belong there. I thought about leaving or just not comin back the next week. One of the first strangers I met took an interest and we hit it off right away as she reminded me a lot of my Daddys Mama, "Papa Dot." (Miss you so much Dot.) Her name is..... was.... Vivian. I didnt know it at the time..... she also was battling cancer. She kept falling asleep mid sermon and I would gently wake her up. I remember we laughed when I told her she can dance in the aisle if she feels like she cant stay awake.  I told her if she suddenly got up and started dancing in the aisle while Pastor Reane is mid sermon she can blame me, say the American man told her to do it, and I promised I would join in and dance with her so she wouldn't be alone. She did so much for Embassy and all of us...... then recently she was no longer there. Then just this month I got a group message, she had passed away from cancer. I didn't really get to know you.... but still. I'm doing this to honour you Vivian. Maybe we'll get to have that dance together in Heaven one day.

Update: as if that wasnt enough during a recent visit with one of my wife's relatives we found out she has been diagnosed with blood cancer.... they dont think she has much time left :( 

In closing, Cancer affects all of us..... whether directly or indirectly.  It doesn't care who you are, where you are, how much you made, how much you make. It doesn't care about your gender, your religion, your spirituality. It doesn't care about your job, your race or your age. It doesn't care about your height, weight or fitness. It affects all of us. And it takes all of us.

Sunday, October 25 2026 I will be joining Team 3 Bridges Community in Pounding the Pavement in the 7 Bridges Walk, its a 28 km walk across 7 of Sydney's bridges. I'm also accepting donations either on my page or on behalf of 3 Bridges Community's Team. If my story meant anything to you, if it touched or resonates with you, please consider donating to this cause. Its yet another way 3 Bridges Community is trying to make the world a better place. 

Keep Pounding World Wide!!!!!

Sincerely,

         Joshua Outland