When I was 4 years old, my dad passed away from cancer. Since then, cancer research has always felt deeply personal to me and my family. My dad was a firefighter, a fitness enthusiast, and someone who deeply valued health, family, faith, and helping others. At the firehouse, he was known as someone who embodied leadership, courage, and humility. Most importantly, he was a committed father of four and a loving friend whose presence impacted everyone around him.

This year, I’m running the 2026 NYC Marathon with my older sister Sophie in his honor as part of Fred’s Team, the official running program of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, supporting their mission to fund life-changing cancer research and improve outcomes for patients and families facing this disease.

I’m also using this run as a way to give back in a more tangible way through fundraising, with a goal of raising $5,000. Through Fred’s Team, 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to cancer research at Memorial Sloan Kettering, helping advance treatments and bring hope to families going through what mine did. Knowing the impact is that direct makes every donation feel incredibly meaningful.

Running this marathon with my sister makes this experience even more special. We’ve both carried our dad’s memory with us our whole lives, and getting to take on something this big together feels really full circle. I know there will be moments during training and on race day where it gets hard, but having each other there will make it something we’ll never forget.

This race is about honoring my dad, supporting cancer research in a real and tangible way, and doing something challenging for a purpose that means so much to me and my family. Thank you for being part of this journey and supporting my fundraising — it truly means more than I can put into words.