Live Like Kole
"Positivity is everything. Negativity will only make every day harder. Try to enjoy every day to its fullest, and always have a sense of humor."
- Kole Sample
6/29/2025
Kole Sample's Story
Kole Sample had a heart that touched everyone he met. A proud 2019 graduate of Warwick High School, and an early graduate of West Chester University in 2022, earning dual degrees in Management and Marketing with academic distinction. From the start, Kole’s life was defined by love for his family, his friends, and anyone lucky enough to know him. He treated everyone like a brother or sister, always putting others before himself.
Even in college, Kole’s generosity shone brightly. He helped raise over $17,000 for Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital and other charities, reflecting a spirit that never stopped giving.
In April 2025, Kole’s life changed when he was diagnosed with a rare grade 4 Glioma. Yet even while facing one of the hardest battles imaginable, Kole’s focus remained on others. He started a TikTok page to document his journey, hoping to support and inspire anyone facing similar challenges. Despite his own struggles, he never forgot about helping others.
During his battle, Kole was honored as an ambassador for the American Brain Tumor Association for his impact in spreading awareness about brain cancer.
For nine months and two days, Kole fought with courage, love, and selflessness. On January 25, 2026, he passed away at home, surrounded by his loved ones. Kole’s life may have been brief, but his heart and his impact will be remembered forever.
Brain Cancer Awareness
Kole dedicated his final months to raising awareness about brain cancer. Glioblastoma, the aggressive form of brain cancer he battled, is one of the most challenging types, affecting thousands each year.
Brain Cancer Facts:
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Brain cancer is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. for all ages.
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Glioblastoma accounts for nearly 15% of all brain tumors and is extremely aggressive.
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Survival rates remain low, with most patients living 12–18 months after diagnosis.
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Awareness, research, and early detection are critical for improving outcomes.
Continuing Kole’s legacy, it is now our mission to LIVE LIKE KOLE, to raise awareness, support patients and families, and work toward finding a cure for brain cancer.
Merchandise
Every item has been created to honor Kole and the incredible impact he had on every person whose life he touched. Through this store, we hope to celebrate who he was, carry forward his kindness and strength, and help turn his legacy into support for research, awareness and better outcomes for families facing brain cancer.
All proceeds from the store go directly to the American Brain Tumor Association and the Glioblastoma Research Organization. Every purchase helps support research, raise awareness, and brings hope to those affected by this terrible disease that is still so underfunded and underrecognized.
GO GRAY iN MAY
GRAY RIBBON
OUR HERO
Live Like Kole - In The News
'Live Like Kole': Lancaster County family carries on son's mission
LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — A Lancaster County family is turning grief into purpose after losing their son to an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Months after 24-year-old Kole Sample's death, his family is continuing the mission that defined his final months: helping others feel less alone.
Through a campaign called "Live Like Kole," the family is raising awareness for brain cancer research while encouraging people to carry forward the positivity, kindness and selflessness that made Kole so beloved.
"He was just amazing, amazing, amazing," his mother, Hilary Hayes, said. "He was loyal, honest, caring, loving, funny. He was just everything you would want in a son."
Sharing his journey
Kole was diagnosed with a brain tumor last year and quickly began documenting his experience on TikTok.
In one of his earliest videos, he explained why he decided to start the account.
"I wanted to share my journey and everything I deal with in hopes that it can maybe help other people who are going through things," Kole said.
His girlfriend, Julia Rios, said this mission became one of his biggest priorities.
"Given the darkness of his diagnosis, he just wanted to help other people," Rios said. "Even when he was tired from physical therapy, chemo, radiation, he wanted to get videos up and help other people."
The videos often featured humor, movie reviews, coffee runs and updates on his treatment.
"This certainly is not going to be a sob story account," Kole said in one TikTok. "I want it to be something that's entertaining and inspiring to people."
Hayes said there was often much more happening behind the scenes than viewers realized.
"He had blood clots, kidney stones, vision problems, mobility issues, seizures," Hayes said. "But he would still get up and make TikToks. He was so brave."
His family
Following his diagnosis, Kole spoke online about his strong support system.
He and his family made daily trips to Philadelphia for radiation treatments, followed by rehabilitation appointments and, often, meals together afterward.
"We would talk about how somebody who didn't have family or didn't have a support system would do it," Hayes said. "We said when this is all over, we want to be that for somebody else."
Despite the circumstances, Hayes said those months became some of her most treasured memories.
"It was a horrible thing what we were going through," she said. "But I think those nine months were the best nine months of my life. We ate, we saw movies, we did the TikToks. We just spent so much quality time together."
According to his father, Kole's positivity wasn't something that appeared after his cancer diagnosis. It was who he had always been.
"He was just a very passionate person," his father, John Sample, said. "Even in the fight of his life, he was positive and outgoing. His main mission was to help other people who were experiencing cancer."
Sample shared he's proud of Kole for many reasons, one of them being his drive. Kole double-majored at West Chester University and graduated early.
"He was ready to get an apartment and start his journey right away," John Sample said. "He was really happy and looking forward to growing in his job."
Sample described Kole as someone who was kind, thoughtful and endlessly positive.
"I don't think he had an enemy," his father said. "Everybody just seemed to be drawn to him."
A message that reached far beyond Lancaster County
As his following grew, so did the impact of his message.
His family said they heard from people across the country and around the world who found comfort in his videos.
"One lady wrote that her father was going through cancer treatments, and seeing Kole would brighten his day," Hayes said.
Sample remembers reading another message from a parent whose son had been diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer.
"He watched Kole's fight for a while and said that it gave him hope," Sample said.
The comments became proof that Kole was accomplishing exactly what he set out to do.
"He just wanted to help people so they weren't alone," Hayes said.
Keeping his legacy alive
On Jan. 25, 2026, he passed away at home, surrounded by his loved ones. But his family says his mission did not end with him.
After his passing, they launched the Live Like Kole campaign and website, which sells merchandise and raises money for brain cancer research and awareness efforts.
The campaign also serves as a reminder of the way Kole chose to live.
"We want to live like Kole," Rios said. "Positive, humble, funny — anything that we can do to be like him and continue that for him."
His aunt, Alethea DiAngelus, said the family remains committed to the cause.
"That's our goal, to just not stop," she said. "Bring awareness and hopefully with that awareness comes funding to help people. This is what Kole would want."
Hayes hopes people who hear Kole's story will take a piece of his outlook with them.
"He would say it's OK to have a bad day," she said. "But don't stay there. Wake up the next day and keep going."
And if people are wondering how they can live like Kole?
"Be a friend. Be caring. Take the extra time. Go out of your way for somebody," Hayes said. "If everybody just picked one part of him, this world would be such a better place."
"Be nice to everyone, include people," DiAngelus said. "He was amazing, and I think he was just too good for this earth."
"Just try to maintain that positivity," Sample said. "Life is tough sometimes, especially now. But don't dwell. Keep pushing forward."
A Lancaster County family is using TikTok and a campaign called "Live Like Kole" to honor the memory of Kole Sample, who passed away from stage four brain cancer at age 24.
Sharing his journey on TikTok
Sample, a Warwick High School graduate, began documenting his journey on TikTok just one month after his diagnosis.
"Hey guys, it's Kole again," he said in one of his videos.
He used humor, faith, and optimism to inspire others while navigating his illness. "If you noticed, we've got the eye patch on today. It's kind of funny looking," he said in one post. In another, he shared, "This certainly is not going to be a sob story account. I want it to be entertaining and inspire people."
A mother’s heartbreak
His mother, Hilary Hayes, shared the emotional toll of watching her son fight cancer. "You know, you see your 24-year-old son try to get through each day. You know you shouldn't be up moving and walking when you know your son can't," Hayes said, holding back tears.
His girlfriend remembers his positivity
Julia Rios, Sample’s girlfriend, said the experience still feels surreal. "It still doesn't feel real at all," she said.
Despite the challenges, Rios said they focused on positivity. "His quote is, 'Positivity is everything.' Negativity makes everything harder, and it was his mission to make everything positive," she said.
Sample’s aunt, Alethea DiAngelus, described him as courageous beyond his years. "Even though he was younger than me and my nephew, he was so much braver than anybody I had ever known," DiAngelus said.
His final days
Sample passed away on Jan. 25, just a week before his 25th birthday. Hayes was by his side in his final moments. "Yeah, just pretty much took in his scent. I just wanted to smell him and just hold his hand to just tell him how brave he was and how proud I was," Hayes said.
A mission to raise awareness
The family is now dedicated to spreading awareness about brain cancer. Hayes said, "I want not a day to go by that somebody doesn't think about how he touched them. That's just my mission, and I want to spread awareness."
The “Live Like Kole” campaign
They have launched a campaign called "Live Like Kole," which includes a website selling merchandise to raise money for cancer research. Proceeds from the site benefit the American Brain Tumor Association and the Glioblastoma Research Organization.
"I hope in my lifetime that I get to see that there is some type of breakthrough or some type of... because it's just absolutely horrible to live through, and I don't want anybody else to have to live through it," Hayes said.
Kole’s lasting message
Rios emphasized the importance of Kole’s message. "Yeah, live like Kole," she said.
DiAngelus added, "The world would be a better place if everybody was like Kole."
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