Victor Boyce faced unthinkable tragedy with the loss of his son, the late actor, Cameron Boyce. With a fanbase in the millions, Cameron had touched the lives of countless individuals with his craft. Beyond his work as an actor he was kind, and above all else, devoted to helping others in need. Sadly, on July 6th, 2019, at the young age of 20, Cameron lost his life to a seizure as a result of SUDEP. Victor and his wife, Libby Boyce, knew that despite their grief they had to carry on their son’s philanthropic legacy. They created The Cameron Boyce Foundation as a way to educate others about Epilepsy, and to raise research dollars to put an end to the disease. We spoke with Victor about how he found strength amidst heartbreak, and how cycling has become a vital outlet for his mental health.
Your son, Cameron Boyce, was a tremendous light, who left such an incredible legacy behind. For our readers who may not be familiar with his work, how would you describe Cameron? Why do you think his legacy is continuing to touch and inspire so many people?
My son was born with a magnetism that is hard to put words to. He exuded joy and he made everyone around him feel seen and comfortable. He had many talents. He could dance, sing, play sports, do martial arts, all at a high level but he was never bragged about any of it. He was humble and kind and selfless. He always gave his time generously; to sick children in the hospital, to the homeless, to people experiencing a lack of clean drinking water. He was not perfect, but he was very close to it. His legacy will live on forever.
Dealing with the loss of a loved one is not just emotionally traumatic, but can also have a detrimental effect on one’s mental health… would you credit cycling as a big part of your healing process?
Cycling for sure has played a huge role in my mental health. It’s physical but also social. I’m very fortunate to have a supportive group of men that I ride with regularly. We discuss bikes and cycling of course, but we also share our family triumphs and tragedies. It’s basically a rolling support group of like-minded people.
For many men, expressing emotion can be challenging… what advice do you have for other men out there who may be struggling with grief or loss?
Everyone grieves differently so what works for me may not be universal. My generation of men were taught at a young age that “boys don’t cry”. I say to let it out. Cry. Talk about it. Accept the help and support that your friends and family offer to you (if you are so fortunate). Crying is not a sign of weakness, it shows that you are indeed human– and it’s your body’s way to help relieve the stress of loss.
If you can describe how cycling makes you feel using one word what would it be?
Youthful! Cycling always reminds me of being 12. It’s magical. It’s like flying without wings. You don’t need a motor. You don’t need a license. You can go as far as you dare. There is nothing else quite like it. I’ll ride until my number is called.
You turned 60 this year… with all that you’ve been through, and all that you’ve learned, what would you say has been your greatest life lesson?
At this age I’ve learned a lot of lessons. It’s difficult to name the “greatest” but I would say being tolerant and accepting of others is the greatest. I’ve been on both sides of judging people before actually getting to know them. It’s always bad to prejudge. I’ve learned things from people I had initially written off for no good reason. I know that I am a much more evolved human at 60 than I was at 40, I guess as it should be.
Your family has always been engaged in spreading kindness and giving back to others… what advice do you have for others who may want to give back but don’t necessarily know how to (or maybe lack the funds to donate)?
Giving back is as simple as giving someone a smile and saying good morning. So many of us are so caught up in our individual life bubbles that we tune people out. Being kind to others will make you feel good as well as them.
Money doesn’t always have to be involved to give back, although it really helps. If donating money is not an option, donate a little time. Help your elderly neighbor bring their trash cans in. Pick up that plastic bag blowing down the street so it doesn’t end up in the ocean. It’s easy to make a difference and it doesn’t have to be monumental. What we need is marginal gains.
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month… What would you say is TCBF’s biggest goal during this month?
Our goal in November is to continue to raise awareness and research dollars to end epilepsy and SUDEP.
Why do you think there is such a stigma associated with epilepsy?
In my opinion, the stigma surrounding epilepsy directly relates to the mysteriousness of it. At one point in time it was thought to be caused by witchcraft or being possessed. There are treatments but there is no cure. Brilliant minds are working on it but to date there is no clear understanding of what causes SUDEP. Epilepsy is the most common neurological disease but also the least talked about for some reason. All of these issues are things we aim to rectify at the Cameron Boyce Foundation.
What sets TCBF apart from other similar organizations?
What sets us apart is Cameron. Cameron is the face of our Foundation. Cameron has a global reach and is relatable to millions of people. When his cause of death was revealed to the public, we were inundated by messages from people living with epilepsy. They thanked us for being open about what happened. It made many people more comfortable to discuss their own epilepsy journey. Unlike cancer, Parkinson’s and other diseases, there was no “face” of epilepsy until it took Cameron. We need to bring epilepsy out of the shadows, end the stigma, and find a cure.
If you had one parting message to share with our readers what would it be?
We all will experience tragedy and loss in life. How we respond to it is what matters. The loss of my son was excruciating. By starting the Foundation, we are hoping to spare others from a similar outcome. We cannot bring Cameron back, but we know he would be proud of what we’re doing.
November is Epilepsy Awareness Month. To learn more about how you can make a difference please visit TheCameronBoyceFoundation.org and follow @TheCameronBoyceFoundation on Instagram.
