I want to ask you--have you ever felt like even after many failed attempts at trying to meet a goal of yours, you don’t make it on purpose because the opportunity manifests itself in an another fashion? Something bigger than yourself and that maybe the universe intended you to do it this way the entire time? It was March 13, 2016 when everything changed for my family. My father-in-law was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. If you know Sean…he really is a bear of man figuratively and somewhat physically (sorry pop but you are). I watched a man who is a father, husband, grandfather, United States Marine, and because he’s ambitious a law enforcement officer who had a love for photography, fishing, hiking, hunting go through some of the hardest things he had ever experienced with a smile every day. I have to give it to the man, he is one hell of a fighter! After a year of surgeries, hours in and out of doctor’s offices, and hours of chemotherapy; he is still with us and cancer free. A year ago, I inquired about charities that spoke directly to me because I knew I had to pay it forward somehow. I spent countless hours on the phone interviewing with charities, shared emails, tears, disappointment, anxiety…you name it--I experienced it. I went up to Boston after I had finally been given the opportunity to apply to Team in Training for the 2019 Boston Marathon and saw the finish line in person. Some may think this is strange but for a long distance runner to see a piece of American history that powerful invokes a lot of emotions from it being the oldest marathon in the United States, to the moment when Kathrine Switzer the first female who fought her way to run in Boston, to the bombings in 2013 and finally in 2018 having Desiree Linden an American female win the race in over 33 years. If you’ve never seen it I highly recommend going to see it. It truly is magical in every aspect. On my return from that trip, I was informed that I was put on the waitlist for a chance to run Boston with Team in Training. Here’s where the universe has a weird way of paying you back…In the following weeks, I got the opportunity to meet Kathrine Switzer and her lovely husband Roger Robinson. Kathrine, Roger, and I talked about my opportunity to run Boston and how important it was for me to pay it forward. She said to me, “it doesn’t sound like you are going to give up on this one bit, are you?” I told her, “my father-in-law didn’t, you didn’t, so no ma’am I am not.” I continued throughout the weeks to inquire if I was going to be moved into a slot until I was told I was indefinitely on the waitlist. I waited with little hope until I got a call on the 2nd of January moments after scheduling a work trip to Boston asking if I was still interested in running for Boston under Team AKTIV Against Cancer. It was two years ago that I wrote I would be running the Boston Marathon at 30 years old. I turned 30 on December 8th and just under 100 days from now on April 15, 2019, I will get my opportunity to pay it forward because the universe is showing me this is the way it was supposed to happen all along.

I've created this page because I want to make a difference and empower those who have been dealt with the hardship of cancer to never give up despite challenges. I am a firm and strong believer in the science AKTIV Against Cancer tirelessly works on--providing scientific proof that while being diagnosed with cancer, exercise does in fact improve the quality of life. I'm inspired by the work of AKTIV Against Cancer and wanted to support them by raising money as part of my participation in the 2019 Boston Marathon. Please help me help them by giving whatever you can using the 'Donate' button. The more people that know about AKTIV Against Cancer, the greater their impact, so please also spread the word by sharing my page with your friends and family. Thank you in advance for your generosity, it means a lot!