Signing up for H4H began as a personal challenge -- to take my newfound love of boxing and see if I could take it to the next level. And the summer I turn 50 seemed the perfect time to prove to myself it's never too late to learn something new or change your definition of who you are. And hopefully at the same time to inspire others to do the same.
But within days of submitting my application, it all got much more personal: one of my best friends, Darcy, who is like a sister to me, told me she has breast cancer. She is undergoing a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery this summer, with treatment to follow. So while I'm training to fight, she's fighting for her life. Whatever challenges I may face on the path to October 10 pale in comparison to what she's up against. I'm fighting for her, and looking forward to the day she and I will raise our hands together in victory, when we emerge from this stage of our lives stronger and closer than ever. You've got this.