Ellen Gifts $25,000 To Charlotte Teacher Battling Cancer; UNC Charlotte

May 20, 2020

Wali Alston,

The Latest:

UNC Charlotte has announced the school will be dedicating a one-time student award in Will Loesel’s honor.

Loesel attended UNC Charlotte as an adult in an effort to become a teacher, after spending more nearly 15 years in the corporate workforce.

Despite undergoing chemotherapy for a rare cancer diagnosis, @CharMeckSchools educator Wil Loesel '18 remains determined to teach his students. In addition to the generosity shown by @TheEllenShow, we are proudly dedicating a one-time $2,500 student award in his honor ⤵️ https://t.co/9aG0HxcTcH

— UNC Charlotte (@unccharlotte) May 20, 2020

Original Story:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An eighth-grade math teacher battling cancer, in Charlotte, got the surprise of a lifetime on the Ellen Degeneres Show on Tuesday.

Doctors diagnosed Wil Loesel with stage 4 cancer in March. Instead of taking medical leave, Loesel has continued teaching his students at Albemarle Middle School from his hospital bed.

Ellen and Box Tops For Education gave the father of two $25,000 for medical expenses.

You can watch Ellen weekday at 5 p.m. on WCCB Charlotte, Charlotte’s CW.