Her Story
GwenDALYN E. Botson
November 16, 2004 – March 2, 2024
She surfed waves, played lacrosse and loved her family. She faced the unimaginable and she did it with grace.
A Life Fully Lived
Gwendalyn E. Botson, Gwen to everyone who loved her, was 17 years old when she was diagnosed with cervical, ovarian, and uterine cancer. She was a daughter, a friend, an athlete, and a force of nature who brought energy and warmth to every room she walked into.
She grew up on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, where the ocean wasn't just a backdrop, it was part of who she was. She surfed, bodyboarded, longboarded, fished, played soccer, spent with time with friends and family, and played lacrosse with a competitive fire that earned her teammates' respect and snowboarded. In high school as a senior, she played lacrosse while enduring nine cancers, chemotherapy, and numerous surgeries. She persevered and was able to maintain a 4.0 GPA in her honors and college courses and leaned more into her faith as she faced each challenge head-on. Following her high school graduation, Gwen played lacrosse and attended Belmont Abbey College as a member of the women's lacrosse team for her freshman year, while going through treatments, having an accessed med/nutrition port, and 6 hours from home. Despite her diagnosis, she remained determined to live her life on her terms regardless of the disease and what doctor's orders were. In winter, you would often find Gwen snowboarding. She snowboarded in West Virginia and Colorado during treatment and only 3 weeks after major abdominal surgery, again against doctor's orders because her determination to live each day fully was her main goal. Her love for her family and her faith guided her throughout all of her adventures. She lived fully, loved deeply, and faced her diagnosis with the same courage she brought to every wave. Gwen earned her angel wings on March 2, 2024, but her legacy continues through each scholarship given, each family that is supported by the Foundation and through the community continuing to support her and her story
The Things She Loved
The ocean was Gwen's second home. She learned to surf young and never stopped. The Outer Banks coastline with its swells, its sunrises, its salt air, helped shape her spirit and her sense of freedom. Every wave was a reminder that life is meant to be experienced, not watched from the shore.
Gwen played lacrosse with everything she had. The sport gave her discipline, community, and a competitive edge that carried into every part of her life. Her teammates remember her for her hustle, her humor, and her ability to make everyone around her better.
Her Battle
She Faced It Head On
At 17, Gwen received diagnoses that no one should face. She had Stage 4 uterine cancer that had spread to her ovaries, cervix, lungs and lymph nodes . Despite this devastating diagnosis, she knew she was young and strong. And she refused to let fear define her story.
Through treatments, hospital visits, and the hardest days imaginable, Gwen kept her spirit. She talked openly about her experience because she wanted others to know they weren't alone. She wanted her battle to mean something beyond her own fight.
After a very courageous battle, Gwendolyn E. Botson passed away in 2024 at 19 years old. And she left behind a community of people who loved her and a mission to carry her wave forward.
Her Legacy
Her Story Doesn't End Here
"She wanted her battle to help others. That's exactly what we're doing."
The Gwen E. Botson Foundation was created to honor everything Gwen was. Her courage, her compassion, and her desire to turn her own pain into purpose for others. The Foundation supports families near the Outer Banks who are facing what Gwen faced: a child battling a rare disease, navigating an impossible road with additional support.
Every scholarship we award, every family we support, every event we hold, it's Gwen's wave, still moving.
Keep Her Wave Going
Honor Gwen's memory by supporting families who need it most.