Survivor Spotlight: Charles Wroten

My name is Charles Wroten, and I’m proud to say I’ve officially hit 10 years cancer-free.

At 15, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer — something I never imagined facing as a teenager. At that age, my world revolved around football, rugby, and just trying to navigate high school life at La Salle College High School. Getting hit with a diagnosis like that changed everything. It was one of the hardest experiences I’ve ever gone through, but it also shaped who I am today.

During high school, I got involved in the fight against cancer beyond my own journey. From my sophomore to senior year, I ran a charity campaign and participated in the Team FTK (For The Kids) 5K for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), raising funds to support kids battling pediatric cancer. Giving back to that community became my way of turning pain into purpose — even when I was still figuring things out myself.

For a long time, I kept my story private. It wasn’t until recently that I publicly shared I was a survivor — and that I’ve now been cancer-free for a full decade. I didn’t expect the overwhelming amount of support that followed, and honestly, it reminded me how powerful it can be to speak up.

This past April, I took it a step further by launching a testicular cancer awareness fundraiser on social media. I blended my personal story with educational content — including how to perform self-checks and why early detection is so important. In the first 24 hours, I raised over $500, and my goal was to reach $1,000 by the end of the month. I plan to make this an annual campaign to keep the conversation alive.

Today, I’m a college senior studying social work and still playing the sport I love — rugby. Being here, doing what I’m doing, and having the chance to use my voice to spread awareness is something I don’t take lightly. If my story can help one person feel seen — or even save a life — then it’s all worth it.