Nottingham, UK - Molten, the basketball brand behind playwiththebest.com, has announced a new partnership with CancerBae, the youth basketball movement working to change the stigma around cancer. The partnership is marked by the launch of Charitaball, a range of Molten rubber basketballs created to support CancerBae's work.
CancerBae was founded by Will Wise, a former professional basketball player who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in January 2023. Rather than let the diagnosis define him, Wise built CancerBae into a platform that reframes cancer as a source of hope, resilience and community rather than fear and silence — using youth basketball as the vehicle for that change. With 1 in 2 people expected to receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, CancerBae aims to shift the cultural conversation around the disease for everyone it touches.
About the Charitaball range
Every Charitaball purchase directly funds CancerBae's work: community social events, resources for children and siblings affected by cancer, and practical support for families facing financial hardship. It also helps grow CancerBae's ambassador programme and advisory group, extending the campaign's reach to audiences traditional cancer-awareness campaigns rarely connect with.
The range launches in two colourways — Purple/Yellow (BGR-VY) and Pink/Silver (BGR-WPS) — built on Molten's GR Series rubber basketball. Each ball features:
- Natural rubber construction with a pebbled texture for a tacky, dependable grip
- Giorgetto Giugiaro's iconic 12-panel design, first created in 2005, offering more seams and greater control than standard 8-panel basketballs
- A butyl bladder that holds air and shape through repeated use
- Suitability for both indoor and outdoor play
Charitaball basketballs are available now at molten.playwiththebest.com/charitaball, priced from £15.00.
Supporting the CancerBae Classic
The partnership also supports the CancerBae Classic, an elite under-12 basketball tournament bringing young athletes from across the UK together to compete and raise funds and awareness for CancerBae, alongside partners including Cancer Research UK. The 2026 edition invites conference teams that might not otherwise get the spotlight to compete on a national stage, with proceeds split between CancerBae's community programmes and Cancer Research UK's scientific research.
About CancerBae
CancerBae is a nonprofit sports movement using youth basketball to change the cultural narrative around cancer. Founded by former professional basketball player and Stage 4 cancer patient Will Wise, the organisation runs community events, the CancerBae Classic tournament, and awareness campaigns in partnership with organisations including Cancer Research UK. More information is available at cancerbae.org.uk.