We need you to help create a world with more research and less cancer by joining the AACR Runners for Research at the 2024 Marine Corps Marathon. Team up with AACR Runners for Research to raise awareness and funds for research on over 200 types of cancers.

Unfortunately, cancer has a had a large presence in my life. My grandmothers and aunties have fought breast cancer, my mom’s cousin is a survivor of pancreatic cancer, my mother in law is currently finishing treatment for cancer. And lastly, my mom was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2021. My mom is doing amazing but still has to take chemo in pill form everyday. 

A friend of mine was helping me choose a marathon to run recently and she brought up the Marine Corps Marathon. This race immediately caught my attention because my mom ran this race in 1998! (This photo is her crossing the finish line with my siblings and I in tow!)

  At the time she was journeying with a friend who had recently received an AIDS diagnosis and so she raised money and ran for the Whitman Walker Clinic. As I was considering a charity to run for, my mom told me to pick something I cared about.

Cancer isn’t fun to care about but I kind of have to. I’ve had a really passive reaction to cancer as it’s felt easier to just not think about so this feels like a great opportunity to be active. Running has been an outlet for me as I’ve had to process and grieve a lot over the recent years so to run this race in honor of my mama and the many other strong ladies in my life, and to raise money for cancer research at the same time, feels so right!  

Thank you for any support and for following along on the journey!