Keep Going . . . This is what my sister’s bracelet read throughout her cancer fight. Emily was a healthy 28-year old preschool teacher, who contracted acute myeloid leukemia (AML) out of the blue in December 2022. In the 16-months following her diagnosis, Emily did just that . . . she kept going . . . through chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant, a 100-day isolation period, graph versus host disease (GVHD), a rare encephalopathy (PML) caused by the John Cunningham Virus (JCV), and her hospice journey. Through these 16-months Emily personified perseverance.

In her memory, I am now partaking on a 16-week challenge that will commence in a boxing match on October 9, 2025 – the week Emily would have turned 31. Boxing classes have always been a critical form of exercise and stress relief for me for more than a decade – but this challenge is distinct as I move from a heavy bag into the ring with a competitor. Though my fight pales in comparison to what Emily experienced, through it all the same words will be ringing in my head . . . “Keep Going.”

All direct donations to my personal fundraising page will go directly to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). LLS is a leader in research and education about AML and GVHD. Additionally, they provide critical resources for patients and caregivers.

Supporting Emily and my friend, Marilyn, first-hand with their cancer journeys in the last five years has changed me as a person. Both repeatedly taught me what true strength looks like and that the next day is never promised but you persevere and look forward, nevertheless. Their memory reminds me to keep going.