In January of 2015 my family received news that would change our lives forever. My twin brother, Ryan, was in the Marine Corps at the time and had went out running for PT one morning. After coming home he lost consciousness and wound up in the E.R. While there they found something on a scan that nobody expected or was prepared for. The doctor explained that Ryan had tumor on his brain. After running tests our worst nightmare was confirmed, Ryan was diagnosed with brain cancer.

We didnt know much about cancer, didnt know how to traat it or what to expect. We all just wanted to support Ryan in any way we could. It was hard to see him struggling and in pain through that time. My brother was such a charismatic guy. He could make you laugh just being his goofy self or from unrelenetlessly roasting his loved ones. He was my favorite pain in the ass. 

Ryan went into remission in 2018 and we held onto hope that the cancer would stay inactive, granting us more valuable time. But in 2020 it came back, as a stage 4 glioblastoma. After 2 long years of treatment, of false promises, of battling with eveything he had, we lost him in June of 2022. We had just turned 29 earlier that year, spending our birthday together as we had as kids, as we had since birth. The next year and all the rest have just been me, trying to figure out how to live and celebrate this life without my person by my side.

I signed up to run a marathon in D.C. in October of this year. Running a full marathon is something Ryan and I had always talked about doing together. Now I plan to run in honor of my brother, completing all 26 miles with his face on my shirt and his spirit as my compass. I am aiming to be sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and am needing to raise $1,000 to do so. Please help me to honor Ryan by donating anything you can for this cause. Any amount towards cancer research may help save someone from having to go through what me and my family have to face every day. So that they may have a chance for more than bittersweet memories and stories of someone who should still be here.

Cancer may have taken Ryan from me but it won't take away my will to fight on his behalf. In all honesty this marathon is kind of risky for me after having my hip replaced a few years back. But I want to do this, need to do this. I made a promise to my brother and I'm determined at this point to see it through. I have been training every week for months to prepare for the marathon and I will continue to do so until October. Please help be a part of this journey by clicking the link below and donating anything you can. My family and I appreciate every little bit, more than you will ever know. Thank you.