I'm running the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon for Jhpiego's Miles for Mothers program and this isn't just a race for me. This is personal.

I was born in the Philippines. Almost every woman in my family is a nurse, a doctor, a caretaker, many of them single mothers who built their lives here in the United States through sacrifice and sheer will. Healthcare is our family's love language. Giving back to the Philippines and to communities like it around the world is in our DNA.

Jhpiego has been working in the Philippines since 1980, reducing maternal mortality, expanding cervical cancer screenings, strengthening immunization programs for children, and empowering women and youth in the most underserved communities. That's not just impressive. That's the kind of work that could have, and likely did, touch families like mine.

Beyond my own story, I've spent years building a community of 70,000 people across social media centered around one belief: that physical, mental, and emotional health are collective, not individual. We rise together or we don't rise at all.

Every dollar you give fuels Jhpiego's mission to save lives through evidence-based, sustainable health care in 39 low- and middle-income countries and places where quality care isn't a given, it's a fight.

I'll be carrying all of that with me across 26.2 miles. As I run this course, I will be reminded of the generosity of my friends, family, and colleagues who have supported my efforts.

Thank you for supporting me!