At the end of 2023 and beginning of 2024, Bailey Stebbins and her husband Mike Wells were both diagnosed with cancer. Stebbins was diagnosed in the fall and has been undergoing radiation. Wells was diagnosed with stage four rectal cancer in early January. They first found a mass in his colon and the cancer spread to his lymph nodes, liver and blood. Wells also had three cancerous tumors in his liver, which doubled in size.

In January, friends of the family, including Jonathan Weston, owner of Panama Rocks, began fundraising through a Go Fund Me. Weston began the fundraiser, and has been keeping it updated in the last few months. On March 2, Wells passed away.

“Michael passed away yesterday morning,” Weston said in the Go Fund Me. “Please keep Baylee and their kids in your prayers.”

Wells’s funeral was on March 11, with the money raised from the Go Fund Me able to help pay for funeral expenses. Since then, Weston and other friends have been working to help get Stebbins and their kids better financially set.

Bailey Stebbins, Mike Wells and their children. Stebbins and Wells were both diagnosed with cancer, and while Stebbins continues treatment, Wells has passed away. Submitted photo

This week, 26 Shirts is selling items to help raise money for the family.

“People can participate online by purchasing one of the custom t-shirts, mugs, or beach towels,” Weston said. “Eight dollars from each purchase goes to the family, Baylee and her two sons. If people want to help but don’t want to buy a shirt, they can still donate on Go Fund Me.”

The custom t-shirts are “perfect for any western New York football/fishing enthusiast”, and have a logo for “Captain Josh’s Sport Fishing” on them. The fundraiser continues throughout the week.

The 26 Shirts fundraiser can be found at 26shirts.com/collections/vol-15-shirt-2-br-captain-joshs-sport-fishing. To donate to the Go Fund Me, visit www.gofundme.com/f/helping-baylee-and-mike.