Carey Bringle, the pitmaster behind the iconic Peg Leg Porker brand, isn't just known for his award-winning barbecue. He is known for a resilience that was forged in the fire of a childhood cancer diagnosis. By partnering with MIB Agents, Carey is turning his signature sauce into a vehicle for hope, proving that a "peg leg" isn't just a nickname—it’s a badge of survival. In the following interview, Carey tells us more about his personal experience and how surviving osteosarcoma shaped the mission and the legendary flavor behind the brand today.
Can you tell us a little about yourself and your osteosarcoma journey?
My name is Carey Bringle. Most people know me today through Peg Leg Porker, barbecue, and my business life, but a big part of who I am was shaped long before any of that. When I was young, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, and that really changed the trajectory of my life.
Going through cancer as a kid and losing a leg forces you to grow up pretty fast. It is a hard road, and there is nothing easy about it. But it also teaches you a lot about toughness, perspective, and gratitude. That experience became a big part of the foundation of who I am. It taught me early that life can hit you hard, but that does not mean it gets to define the rest of your story.
How did your experience with cancer and limb loss shape the path you took afterward?
It shaped me in a major way. I think when you go through something like cancer and limb loss, you learn pretty quickly that you have a choice. You can let it defeat you, or you can decide that you are going to keep moving forward and make something out of your life.
For me, it made me tougher. It made me more determined. It made me want to prove, not just to other people but to myself, that I was not going to be limited by what happened to me. That mindset carried into everything I have done since then. Business, barbecue, competition, building brands, all of it. I have always had that chip on my shoulder in a good way. I have always wanted to show that losing a leg did not mean losing my future.
What inspired you to start Peg Leg Porker?
Peg Leg Porker really came from passion, hard work, and a whole lot of persistence. I loved barbecue. I loved the culture of it, the competition of it, the craft of it, and the way it brings people together. I spent years learning it, competing, and trying to get better, and eventually I knew I wanted to build something of my own.
And honestly, the name Peg Leg Porker says a lot about me too. I was not trying to hide my story. I wanted to own it. I wanted to build something that was real, memorable, and unmistakably mine. Peg Leg Porker is who I am. It is my story, my personality, and my work ethic all wrapped into one brand.
What started with barbecue turned into something much bigger than I ever imagined, but it was all built on the same thing: a love for the craft and a refusal to quit.
How has your experience as an osteosarcoma survivor influenced the work you do today?
It affects the way I look at just about everything. When you have faced cancer, a lot of the challenges that come later in life get put in perspective. That does not mean business is easy or life is easy, but it does mean you understand what a real battle looks like.
It made me more driven, for sure. It made me more grateful. And it made me more aware that if you have a platform or a story that can help somebody else, then you ought to use it. I know what it is like to be scared. I know what it is like to have your future feel uncertain. So if my story can help somebody else keep going, that means something to me.
I think it also taught me not to waste time. Life is precious, and I try to live that way.
Peg Leg Porker is partnering with MIB Agents to support the osteosarcoma community through proceeds from your BBQ sauce. What does this collaboration mean to you?
It means a lot to me. This one is personal. This is not just a business partnership or a product promotion. This is tied directly to my life and to something that shaped me in a very deep way.
To be able to use something we built through Peg Leg Porker to support the osteosarcoma community is really meaningful. If a product like our barbecue sauce can help raise awareness, help support families, and help people feel seen, then that is something I am proud to be part of.
I love that this partnership brings my personal journey and my business together in a way that can actually do some good. That means a lot to me.
What advice would you give to someone who has recently been diagnosed with osteosarcoma or is adjusting to life after treatment?
The first thing I would say is, do not give up. Take it one day at a time. You do not have to solve your whole future today. You just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other, no pun intended.
I would also say that your life can still be full, successful, and meaningful. It may not look exactly the way you pictured it before, but that does not mean it cannot still be great. Different does not mean less.
And give yourself some grace. It is a lot. It is physical, mental, and emotional. Some days are going to be tough. That is normal. Lean on the people who love you, ask for help when you need it, and do not underestimate how strong you really are.
Most of all, remember this: cancer is something you are going through. It is not the only thing you are.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the MIB Agents community?
I would just say thank you. Communities like this matter because they remind people that they are not alone. There is a lot of power in being around people who truly understand what this journey feels like.
I would want the MIB Agents community to know that even though this road is hard, there is still a lot of life on the other side of it. There is purpose, there is joy, there is success, and there is a future. I am living proof of that.
I am proud to support this community, and I hope my story shows that adversity does not have to be the end of your story. In a lot of ways, it can become the thing that helps shape your strength.
Peg Leg Porker’s signature line of six sauces and rubs is now available at over 2,500 retailers nationwide, including Walmart, Kroger, and Safeway. This collection, developed in partnership with McCormick & Company, features their famous Original, Hot, and White BBQ Sauces, alongside BBQ, Brisket, and Classic Chicken Seasonings. Every purchase helps fund the fight against osteosarcoma, with a portion of all proceeds donated directly to MIB Agents.
