Elias Theodorou still fighting for others despite losing cancer battle

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“In the last phase of his life, Elias faced all the challenges to his health and pushed all the barriers that life put in his way with his trademark spartan stoicism. In facing these, he realized how many resources he needed to get the standard of care he deserved,” the GoFundMe page states.

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“These experiences opened his eyes to the challenges chronically ill people experience trying to gain access to the medical system and medical support.”

Theodorou, 34, successfully campaigned to use medical marijuana as an athlete.

He took up MAA in 2009 after attending Humber College for a year studying advertising.

Theodorou won a UFC contract by winning the Ultimate Fighter in 2014.

The Mississauga native was also an actor, a stuntman and a Harlequin romance cover model.

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His friends say Theodorou was always thinking of others.

“While going through multiple rounds of chemotherapy, he decided that now was the time to try and help other people access the same things that he thought were allowing him to handle it,” the GoFundMe page states.

“Just as he would give you the shirt off his back, he wanted to spend his energy trying to help others while he was still fighting his own fight. He wanted to share the same resources and information that he relied on such that others could benefit from his struggles.”

Before his death, Theodorou directed his family and coaches to set up a non-profit — the Theodorou Foundation and Higher Access — and asked them to set aside assets from his estate for the seed capital.

The foundation will provide educational content and access to resources for patients struggling to engage with the healthcare system.