Bodybuilder Passes Away at 51 After Battle With Cancer

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IFBB Pro and entrepreneur Lee Banks passed away on 2nd February 2023 after a long battle with cancer. He was 51 years old. His wife wrote a heartfelt message for him on Facebook. [{ "selector": ".aaeni-a", "duration": "500ms", "fill": "forwards", "delay": "0ms", "keyframes": [ {"offset": 0, "transform": "translateX(calc(360px - 320px))", "opacity": "1"}, {"offset": 1, "transform": "translateX(0)", "opacity": "1"} ] }]

Lee Banks debuted in 2002

He earned his pro card after winning the 2010 North American Championships heavyweight division and overall. He later had multiple top-seven finishes in the open division.

He had the most success in the classic division

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In his debut, he finished runner-up in 2017 at the Chicago Pro and placed in the top ten at the 2017 Olympia. Lee Banks’ last show was the 2019 Atlantic Coast Pro; he finished second place.

Wife shares about Banks' struggle

She wrote on Facebook "In 2018 while in competition preparation Lee became aware of an extreme change in his metabolism. For many months his medical labs and exams read normal and extremely healthy. Yet, he knew and he persisted. In 2020 a stage 4 cancerous carcinoid tumor was finally revealed in his intestines. After many battles, my warrior passed away from complications with carcinoid syndrome. Keep in mind that he was more than a bodybuilder. He was a soldier exposed to the perils of war."

Banks was a successful entrepreneur

A promoter of Natural Gym Association, a natural bodybuilding federation. Banks ad an event in the works before his death that’ll take place in May of 2023 — all earnings from the show will be donated to cancer research.

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