| Last Updated: September 29, 2026 |
Alec Cabacungan is one of the most recognized faces in American charity advertising. Millions of viewers know him as the young man from the Shriners commercials, and many search for updates on his health, age and career. This guide covers his story and the questions fans ask most.
Alec Cabacungan is the national patient spokesperson for Shriners Children's. He was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, commonly called brittle bone disease. He began appearing in the hospital's fundraising commercials at age 12, and his warmth and confidence helped drive a dramatic rise in public donations.
Today he is 24 years old and a Northwestern University journalism graduate. He is pursuing a career in sports broadcasting.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Alec Cabacungan |
| Date of Birth | May 2, 2002 |
| Age | 24 years (as of September 2026) |
| Birthplace | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Medical Condition | Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) |
| Known For | National spokesperson for Shriners Children's |
| Started in Commercials | Around age 12 |
| Fractures | Over 60 in his lifetime |
| Surgeries | More than 18 at Shriners |
| Education | Journalism degree, Northwestern University |
| Career Goal | Sports broadcaster |
| Online Show | Smart Alec on Sports |
| Fellow Ambassador | Kaleb |
| Marital Status | Not married |
Alec was born in Chicago with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare genetic disorder that makes bones extremely fragile and easy to break. He has experienced more than 60 fractures in his lifetime.
Because his condition was serious from the start, his family turned to Shriners for care when he was only two months old. He has been a patient at the Chicago hospital ever since, going through surgeries, long recoveries and years of rehabilitation. Even so, he grew up known for his optimism and humor.
Alec has undergone more than 18 operations at Shriners, along with countless hours of physical therapy. When he was about 12, he began appearing in the hospital's television campaigns. Viewers connected with his honesty and confidence, and the campaigns became some of the most effective charity advertising in the country.
His work has since expanded beyond commercials. He has appeared on national programs, including a CBS Sunday Morning feature, and a Chicago Sun-Times profile highlighted his role as a patient ambassador.
Alec graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in journalism, one of the top journalism programs in the country. His goal is a career in sports broadcasting. He has interned with news and sports media organizations and appeared on national sports programs. He also ran his own online sports show, Smart Alec on Sports.
Yes. Alec is alive and well. False death rumors spread on social media, and Shriners Children's responded with an official fact check confirming that Alec and Kaleb are alive and well. Outlets such as Primetimer also reported that the viral claims were debunked.
Death hoaxes like this often target people with visible medical conditions. If you see a similar claim, check the official Shriners Children's page before sharing it.
Alec is an advocate for accessibility. He works to improve wheelchair access on college campuses and continues to support the Shriners Children's community through public appearances and outreach. His message is that disability does not limit ambition, and that donations to the hospital change the lives of children and families.
Alec is often mentioned alongside Kaleb, another young ambassador who was also born with brittle bone disease. Kaleb has been a Shriners patient since his first surgery at only 7 days old. The two became familiar to TV audiences and have been the subject of similar false rumors online. Shriners has confirmed that both are doing well.
Yes. Alec Cabacungan is alive. Shriners Children's published an official fact check debunking the death rumors.
Alec was born on May 2, 2002, which makes him 24 years old as of September 2026. Some fan sites list May 8 as his birthday, so the exact date varies by source.
Alec has osteogenesis imperfecta, also called brittle bone disease. It is a rare genetic condition that makes bones fragile and prone to fractures.
Alec has had more than 60 fractures in his lifetime and has undergone more than 18 surgeries.
Alec graduated from Northwestern University with a journalism degree.
He continues to serve as a Shriners Children's ambassador and is pursuing a sports broadcasting career. He also advocates for wheelchair accessibility.
Alec is not married. He has not shared details of his private life publicly and focuses mainly on his studies, advocacy and media work.
Alec is 24. Kaleb is younger. Reports around 2024 described him as 16, which would put him at roughly 18 now, but ages for Kaleb vary by source, so treat that as an estimate.
Kaleb was born with brittle bone disease, and in the commercials and interviews he appears using a wheelchair. Shriners has not shared detailed medical updates, so his current mobility is not publicly documented.
Shriners Children's has confirmed that Kaleb is alive and well. He has grown from the young boy in the early commercials into a teenager and is still part of the Shriners community.
Alec's net worth has not been publicly disclosed. Figures on fan sites are guesses and should not be treated as fact. His income likely comes from his ambassador role and media work.
Shriners has not clearly disclosed this, and claims on other websites are inconsistent. Their roles are ambassador roles, and the campaigns raise money for children's medical care.
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Wickey Thom specializes in celebrity news and entertainment content, covering the latest updates on actors, musicians, television personalities, influencers, and public figures. With a focus on accuracy and timely reporting, Wickey creates engaging articles featuring celebrity biographies, career milestones, trending stories, and entertainment industry developments. His content is carefully researched using reliable public sources to ensure readers receive informative, up-to-date, and easy-to-read coverage.
