The King of Chemo signs as first Speaker
With an audience of more than 16 million people across social media, there’s a good chance you know Iain Liam Ward better as The King of Chemo.
I'm proud to announce that Iain has become my first official speaking client.
TL:DR - if you book speakers anywhere in the world to motivate and move audiences, you should book The King of Chemo.
Diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2020 at just 31 years old, Iain was given five years to live.
That took him to July last year, and he’s still here.
Watch this video below to get an idea of the man, if you aren’t yet aware of him:
Iain turned his diagnosis into a global fundraising mission. His aim is to break a world record by becoming the highest fundraising marathon runner in history, having already raised more than £700,000 towards a target of £2.3 million for charity.
Rather than asking people to donate directly, Iain continues to build an enormous audience, donating 100% of his social media advertising revenue and corporate sponsorship income to cancer research.
In his words:
I was meant to be dead in July 2025.
I’ve been battling cancer since July 13th 2020. My goal and mindset hasn’t changed at all. My one life goal is to break a charity world record without asking for donations.
And, this November, Iain’s new book, Terminally Optimistic: Finding my Life’s Purpose Through my Cancer Diagnosis, is released. (Pre-order at that link, profits going to charity).
Our meeting
I first met Iain, crown and all, when I interviewed him for my podcast, Project Possible.
After our conversation, while packing up, I off-handedly said ‘you must be crawling in speaking gigs’.
‘Nah. But, you’re hired!’, he exclaimed, all Irish charm.
The only problem: I wasn’t looking for speaking clients.
Christ, I wasn’t even a speaking agent. I’ve worked in PR for the last 18 years.
‘I think the podcast is enough for me right now!’ I replied, working my way through the grief of losing my brother Jordan to suicide six months prior, and having only just sold my PR agency.
And yet, that conversation has gnawed at me.
Since then, I've connected a number of podcast guests with speaking opportunities - and I realised something. I’d become an Accidental Agent.
I've said more than once: facts and figures don’t change minds, stories do.
I reasoned: if Project Possible exists to spread positivity, possibility, resilience and the idea of success through adversity, helping people like Iain share their stories with more audiences is simply an extension of that mission.
So I got in touch with him.
He’s since had a good few speaking gigs in - he really is a fantastic speaker and communicator - but, for my money, he should be on every stage in the world sharing his incredible story of hope, resilience and taking what life has to throw at us in humour and with positivity.
I said: let’s formalise this. I’ll proactively go after opportunities, you get up there and do your thing.’ The answer was a resounding:
‘Let’s do it'‘.
And here we are!
Want iain to speak at your event?
We're actively looking for opportunities to get Iain's story in front of more audiences.
If you're organising a conference, company event, leadership away day, charity fundraiser, adventure summit or healthcare event in the UK or anywhere in the world, and you're looking for a speaker who will leave your audience laughing, crying and seeing life differently, get in touch to book Iain now.
You won’t regret it.
