About Us

Nearly 23 years of distinguished Navy service
From warfighter to cancer fighter

Service & Dedication

Commander Bill Phillips dedicated nearly 23 years of his life to serving our country in the United States Navy. His distinguished career took him from the cockpit of the sophisticated EA-18G Growler to strategic roles at the Pentagon.

Throughout his military service, Bill exemplified the values of honor, courage, and commitment. His journey from naval aviator to strategic leader prepared him for the battles that lay ahead—including the most personal fight of his life.

"Every challenge in the Navy taught me something about resilience, but nothing could have prepared me for what came next."

The Fight of His Life

When Bill received his colorectal cancer diagnosis, he didn't just fight the disease—he launched a full-scale campaign of aggressive healing. At Walter Reed, he made a powerful daily ritual: taking the stairs during every treatment.

"It was my way to check in with my body. Each flight of stairs told me where I stood that day."

Inspired by Stuart Scott's powerful words, "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live," Bill chose to live wide open—with gratitude, intention, and purpose.

The most transformational moment came when Bill began working with a professional life coach: "It was like someone turned the lights on in a room I didn't know I'd been sitting in."

Taking the stairs every day at Walter Reed
"Checking in with my body"

A Journey Through Pictures

From military service to cancer treatment, from speaking engagements to recovery—Bill's journey is one of continuous growth, resilience, and transformation.

Bill Phillips speaking at Old Line Spirits

This is the care I wish I had sooner. Oncology departments do amazing work saving lives, but people need more than medicine to heal—they need community, a restored identity, and a renewed sense of purpose."

The Birth of KFG Project

Coaching helped Bill shift from feeling close to rock bottom to a place of self-awareness and self-love. "I learned to tune in instead of tune out." Soon after, he began coaching fellow patients at Walter Reed and volunteering with Imerman Angels.

That's when the idea for the KFG Project was born: a mission to fill a critical gap in cancer care by providing mental, emotional, and social support through coaching. In April 2025, Bill officially launched the nonprofit—just as he retired from nearly 23 years of Navy service.

"This is the care I wish I had sooner. Oncology departments do amazing work saving lives, but people need more than medicine to heal—they need community, a restored identity, and a renewed sense of purpose."

Today, the KFG Project provides year-long coaching support, respite retreats, and rehabilitation resources to cancer-affected Military personnel, Emergency Responders, and Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patients and caregivers.

Take the F'g Stairs

Whether you're here because you're in the fight, love someone who is, or simply want to support those who serve and sacrifice—Bill and the KFG Project are here to remind you: take the stairs. Even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.

For Bill, healing didn't stop when treatment ended. It continues daily through journaling, yoga, breathwork, music, sports, and staying connected to a network of extraordinary humans. "Every lap around the sun adds gratitude, perspective, and a deeper fire to help others."

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