In memory of my grandmother, Helen Kesner, I’m running the Tokyo Marathon to raise funds for pancreatic cancer research.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to detect early, and that late detection is a major reason survival rates remain so low. The Lustgarten Foundation is the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research in the world, leading critical work in early detection, prevention, and innovative treatments.

Losing my grandmother, Helen, to pancreatic cancer changed my family forever. She was the heart of so many of our memories - warm, steady, and endlessly supportive. Watching her face this disease with quiet strength taught me more about resilience, love, and what it means to keep going even when it’s hard. This run is my way of carrying her spirit with me, honoring her life, and turning our loss into something that might help another family avoid the same heartbreak.

My aunt, Wendy Brosse, has also shaped this journey in a deeply personal way. Even while living with MS, she has never allowed her diagnosis to define her or limit her ambition. Her drive, her optimism, and the way she continually shows up - for herself and for all of us - played a major role in inspiring me to begin running. This March, Wendy will complete her sixth and final Abbott World Marathon Major in Tokyo, joining a small and remarkable group of runners who have achieved this milestone. To run beside her as she reaches this finish line is an honor I will always carry with me.

Together, we’re running for Helen, for our family, for early detection, and for everyone who needs hope.

If you’re able to donate, no matter the amount, it will make a real and immediate difference. Your support helps fund the research that can save lives and bring comfort to families facing this devastating disease.

Thank you for reading, supporting, and helping us carry Helen’s memory forward.