In addition to several other loved ones who have been afflicted with cancer and its associated effects, I dedicate my fight to my childhood best friend, Sheila.

At age 10, Sheila was diagnosed with a particularly aggressive form of metastatic osteosarcoma days after we ran our last track meet together. In the years to follow, she fought bravely through multiple recurrences, rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation treatments--never losing her contagiously optimistic disposition.

She is now cancer free and working hard to provide care to children as a nurse in the same hospital where she was treated, the Riley Hospital for Children, in my home state of Indiana.

On behalf of Sheila and the approximately 300,000 other young patients seeking treatment at Riley each year, I encourage you to consider contributing to the Riley Children's Foundation, whose vision is to provide children with equitable access to exceptional healthcare so they may reach their optimal health and quality of life.