Mark Pilgrim Veteran radio and TV presenter has died after his courageous battle with stage four lung cancer. He was 53.
Lloyd Madurai, managing director at HOT 102.7FM said in an online statement.
“It was with great sadness that I share this news,”
“Our hero and brother and much loved radio personality Mark Pilgrim lost his battle with cancer this morning at 10:45,” Madurai said in a Facebook post published an hour later.
“He fought valiantly to the very end. Mark passed peacefully with his fiancé Adrienne at home. They were together for his last breath.
“The family thank you for being part of his journey. For loving him and for celebrating him and supporting him always. Mark will be greatly missed by all. May his soul rest in peace.”
Mark Pilgrim was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in March 2022, and in June he revealed the disease had spread to his femur, the base of his spine and lymph nodes.
Following his diagnosis, the radio presenter launched a YouTube video series chronicling his recovery journey.
In July, Pilgrim revealed during his 7th round of chemotherapy treatment that his latest scans had shown “a further significant reduction in the size and intensity of the tumors .
One month later, the TV personality revealed that after a 45-minute radiation therapy session, “the tumours in the leg and spine are hopefully gone.”
Pilgrim suffered a collapsed lung in September, leading to multiple related issues.
In October and November, the journalist underwent multiple medical procedures to address the collapsed lung, which saw him spend weeks in the ICU recovering. He was discharged from hospital in time to ring in the new year with his fiancée, Adrienne Watkins.
Pilgrim is survived by his two daughters, Tayla-Jean, 12 and Alyssa, 10 – who he shares with ex-wife Nicole Torres – and Watkins.
The father of two was diagnosed and beat aggressive Stage 3 testicular cancer in 1988.