Why I'm Running: A Story about Love, Loss, and helping those who lost their voice.

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I want to share something deeply personal about why I have created a major fundraising challenge called, "Run for Voices: 50K in 50 Countries" and why it means everything to me.

I’m doing it for my uncle, Zio Nino. He was one of the most important father figures in my life. My dad's brother, he was a true Sicilian through and through - born, raised, and devoted to the values that built our family. He spent his entire life working in restaurants alongside my parents, and from the day I was born, he was there supporting and loving me as much as my parents.

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The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

When I was thirteen, Zio Nino was diagnosed with a throat cancer. I watched the disease steal more than just his health - it took away the man I knew and loved. He had always been proud, vibrant, deeply social. He worked in the beautiful little village of Taormina, on the coast, a place he adored, surrounded by good friends and the community that adored and knew him best.

However, after his surgery, he stopped going. He wouldn't let people see him. It was as if the cancer had convinced him he wasn't the same person anymore, and that absolutely broke my heart.

Even though I was just a teenager who couldn't fully grasp what he was going through, I stayed by his side. And he never stopped being my beloved uncle.

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An Act of Love I'll Never Forget

In August 2019, the night before I moved to the UK with barely €300 in my pocket, Zio Nino called me to his house. He handed me €1,000 - money he'd quietly saved throughout the year, just for me. That gesture changed my life. Without it, I couldn't have started the journey that led me to where I am today. 

This was one of the last times I got to see him, as sadly he passed away in 2020.

That was who he was: the kindest, most selfless person I've ever known. Someone who always put others first. Who tried to make you laugh when you were sad. Who showed up, every single time.

For five years of high school, he picked me up from school every single day. Never late. Not once. Sometimes my friends came along, and even when there were a hundred cars in the parking lot, we always found him - even if he was the very last one there.

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Turning Pain into Purpose

Throat cancer stole so much from him. I saw the pain up close - not just physical, but the emotional toll of losing your voice, your confidence, your sense of self in the world.

Now, I want to transform that pain into hope.

That's why I'm dedicating this challenge to Zio Nino and to everyone whose life has been touched by throat cancer.

These runs are my way of giving back. My way of honouring the man who gave me everything. My way of making a meaningful difference for others walking the path he once walked.

Every kilometre I run, I'll be carrying his memory and fighting for a future where fewer families have to watch someone they love disappear into silence.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for supporting this journey.

- Giuseppe Miuccio

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Support and follow Run for Voices: 50K in 50 Countries and help fund vital research, treatment, and support services for throat cancer patients and their families.

Instagram: giuseppe_miuccio