'Bucket list' TikTok star Harrison Gilks dies at 18
Harrison Gilks, a Canadian TikToker who recorded his attempt to check off his bucket list after realizing he had a fatal illness, died at the age of 18. He was an inspiration to many through his TikTok videos, in which he chronicled and shared his journey with cancer.
The Canadian teenager died on March 30 at the Dr Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, New Brunswick, according to his family's online obituary. His brother, David, shared his final moments with his family, thanking them for their support and encouragement.
'An inspiration to many'
“Harrison was an inspiration to many. His smile could light up a room, his laugh could cheer anyone up. He was our sunshine on a cloudy day,” the obituary reads. “He always found good in every situation and touched the lives of many with his messages of hope and encouragement through his TikTok videos, where he chronicled and shared his journey with cancer with the world,” TODAY reported.
TikToker was diagnosed with rare cancer
On November 15, 2020, Gilks disclosed on TikTok that he had a rhabdomyosarcoma diagnosis. In December of the same year, the first round of his chemotherapy was finished.
According to the Mayo Clinic, rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare kind of cancer that develops in soft tissue, primarily skeletal muscle tissue and occasionally hollow organs like the bladder or uterus.
A Twitter user shared, "Cancer sucks what a brave young man Harrison Gilks was. I wish I was following his story. RIP and positive energy to his friends and family."
Cancer sucks what a brave young man Harrison Gilks was. I wish I was following his story. RIP and positive energy to his friends and family. https://t.co/Ld7EaiPUAf
— ironman2005 (@ironman20054) April 2, 2023
What was on Harrison Gilks's bucket list?
Gilks vowed to get as many 'bucket list' adventures as he could with his remaining time, and after two and a half years of a hard-fought battle, he said goodbye.
The TikTok star completed his bucket list items, including meeting Luke Combs at a music festival, taking trips to Los Angeles, Montreal, New York City, Toronto, and Tampa, and sharing health updates. He posted his last TikTok on March 21, 2023, revealing that his cancer had spread and his time was limited.