She died from cancer at 23. Now, her father's mission is to help save others

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeNewsLocal News She died from cancer at 23. Now, her father's mission is to help save others Kevin Williamson hopes to spread the importance of young women knowing their bodies after his daughter died from cervical cancer at 23 years old. Author of the article: By Natasha Baldin Published Jul 08, 2026 Last updated 37 minutes ago 6 minute read Join the conversation Kevin Williamson is still grappling with the loss of his 23-year-old daughter Kaley, who passed away from cervical cancer at the beginning of June. He's now trying to continue his daughter's legacy and raise awareness of the importance of young girls getting screened and knowing their bodies. PHOTO BY TONY CALDWELL /Postmedia Article content Kevin Williamson remembers the exact moment his world came crashing down. Article content On March 17, 2025, months of unanswered questions about his daughter’s constant fatigue, unexplained pain and unusual discharge finally started making sense. Article content Article content The cause was a 7.2-centimetre mass on Kaley Williamson’s cervix that doctors warned would be difficult to treat. Article content The diagnosis was bewildering for the 21-year-old from Orléans, who spent most of her days training and competing at the cheerleading gym with her two stepsisters, while working toward her dream of becoming a personal support worker or helping children. Article content Article content But instead of planning for the future, she spent the next 15 months up against the fight of her life, undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments, often spending weeks on end in the hospital. She died on June 7, 2026, at the age of 23. Article content The Evening Citizen The Ottawa Citizen’s best journalism, delivered directly to your inbox by 7 p.m. on weekdays. Sign Up By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Article content Now, her father is determined to ensure her legacy lives on by spreading Kaley’s message to everyone who will listen. Article content “Know your body.” Article content “If the doctor says that it’s fine, don’t worry about it, say, ‘Well, no. Let’s take a minute and think about this for a second here,’ and use Kaley as an example,” Williamson told the Ottawa Citizen. Article content For Kaley, the cervical cancer diagnosis was…