I might be slightly terrified (or more than slightly) to step in a boxing ring, but I cannot imagine how scary it is to sit across from a doctor and hear a cancer diagnosis. While I am highly competitive and training to win, my heart is truly in the fundraising and the goal to knock out cancer! Everyone I know has a loved one who is fighting or has triumphantly fought this horrible disease and we need more funding and research now than ever.

I made the decision that I would apply for Haymakers for Hope on my drive home from a celebration of life in New Jersey. My sister's mother-in-law, Sandy, passed away from esophageal cancer in September 2024. Sandy deserved to live longer and watch her grandchildren grow up. That decision was further solidified when one of my lifelong friends lost her husband to melanoma in early May. Sean, Kristin's husband, was only 30 years old and they welcomed their baby daughter in November; he should have been able to live a full life, loving his wife and raising his beautiful daughter. Instead, I applied for Haymakers while Sean was learning about hospice care. I fight for Sean and Sandy. I also fight for Cathy, Betsy, Tom, Nancy, Anne, Andrea, and countless others who are amongst the strongest fighters I know.

Cancer is a beast, no matter the form, stage, prognosis, or profile of the person fighting against it. Win or lose in the ring this October, I will have fought my hardest to knock out cancer.