who we are
In the spring of 2023, during my battle with throat cancer, I started opening my social media posts with a simple, lighthearted “hey buddie.” What began as a way to share updates and manage my own stress turned into something much bigger, thanks to the outpouring of encouragement from friends and family.
Chilling in 1 of 6 weekly chemo (cisplatin) treatments. Treatments took around 3.5, 4 hours.
My cancer was caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), which is now preventable through vaccination. HPV causes many cancers and is the leading cause of cervical cancer.
Strapped onto radiation table for 1 of 33 daily treatments. They took less than 15 minutes. Mask was so tight that I couldn’t open my eyes. (Sorry not sorry for the nip in the pic.)
After telling my story, I learned that three hesitant families chose to vaccinate their kids. That wasn’t something I planned or set out to do, but those unintended outcomes made me realize that sharing your journey can change lives.
Not my time cancer. Not my time.
That realization inspired me to create hey buddie as a nonprofit in 2024. Our mission is broad and simple: to back the small, community nonprofits that often get overlooked, and to remind people that even small acts of support add up to good vibes and real results.
My family was with me at my last radiation treatment, supporting as always.
Ringing that bell felt SO good. Tears of joy and worry. Treatment is over but what comes next?
meet Mike, our Founder and CEO
Mike’s life has been a journey shaped by numerous traumatic events. From experiencing abuse as a kid, binge drinking starting at 14, his fathers sudden death in a sensational industrial fire, a heart attack in 2017, and a fight against cancer in 2023, Mike’s been through a few things
The heart attack shifted his outlook on life. Climbing the corporate ladder took a backseat to family and friends. They became his priority.
Cancer, however, changed his perspective entirely. What started as a suspected throat infection turned into a battle that made him confront the possibility of having less than five years to live. Not see his daughter graduate high school. After some time in a depression, he decided to dedicate a large part of the life he had left to helping others.
Then came hope—his throat cancer was beatable with an 85-90% success rate. (Yup. Quite a roller coaster.) Now he’d have even more time to help others while growing old alongside his family.
The cancer journey opened up another world too. He began to remember some of the details of the abuse experienced as a child. He eventually needed to see a therapist to help cope. It’s hard to put into words how her work helped him understand who he was. It changed him.
In a weird way, cancer was a blessing.
Mike’s experiences fueled the creation of hey buddie, where he channels his passion for making meaningful impact by creating good vibes & stronger communities.