“I don’t think I can do this”: Serena Williams shares heartbreaking news
Serena Williams has shared the moment she broke down while revealing her close friend’s battle with pancreatic cancer, with the hope of raising awareness for the disease.
Serena shared a short clip to Twitter and was emotional while speaking about her friend Dr Esther Lee.
“Last year, my friend Esther was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and she’s been by my side whenever I’ve needed her,” Williams said, visibly tearing up and struggling to speak.
“I don’t think I can do this, this is going to be too hard.
“My dear friend Esther has been a huge part of my own health journey, and now she needs our help as she battles pancreatic cancer.”
Dr Lee, a physiotherapist, has worked with Serena and her sister Venus throughout their tennis careers.
In the clip, Williams said she would be supporting her close friend by taking part in the LA Cancer Challenge 5K initiative, with proceeds from her fundraising going towards pancreatic research.
“Esther has been named the honorary starter for the LA Cancer Challenge 5K walk-run on October 31st in UCLA, benefiting the Hirshberg Foundation for pancreatic cancer research,” Williams said.
“My family and I have joined Team Esther to help support everyone fighting this disease. Please join us as we raise awareness and race towards a cure by finding and advancing critical research.”
The tennis champion has previously credited Dr Lee with saving her life, after Williams developed a blood clot that could have killed her if she hadn’t of followed her friend’s advice to go to hospital.
“I didn’t want to go and she told me, ‘You got to go,’ and that was the beginning of stuff that was really bad but ended up being good for me,” Williams told reporters in 2012.
“I’ve thanked her so many times for that because it literally could have been life-changing.”
Image: @serenawilliams / Twitter