About Us
Sole Survivors™ is a purpose-driven storytelling, education, and wellness platform designed to empower children and families navigating chronic health conditions—while inspiring resilience, optimism, and belief.
Founded by Gary Forbes, former NBA player and author, Sole Survivors was created from lived experience. Gary is one of only three players in NBA history to compete at the highest professional level while managing Type 1 diabetes. His journey shaped the foundation of Sole Survivors: transforming adversity into strength and helping young people see themselves ascapable, confident, and powerful regardless of diagnosis. At its core, Sole Survivors uses storytelling as a catalyst for impact. Through an original universe of superhero characters each representing real-world health conditions such as cancer, autism diabetes, cerebral palsy, Crohn’s disease, and more the platform reframes challenges into sources of empowerment. These stories foster connection, understanding, and hope for children and families alike.What began as a children’s book series has evolved into a growing ecosystem that includes:
- Illustrated comic books and literacy tools
- School, hospital, and community-based programs
- Digital and interactive experiences that grow alongside the audience
The mission of Sole Survivors is simple yet powerful, and that is to inspire belief, build confidence, and ensure every child feels seen, supported, and heroic—no matter their health journey.All initiatives, programs, and impact efforts connected to the Sole Survivors platform are supported through Sole Survivors, Inc., reinforcing a long-term commitment to serving childrenliving with chronic health conditions and expanding access to education, wellness, and empowerment experiences.