Look, I could sit here and write about how much cancer has affected my life, how it took my father, how it took his father, how it took my moms mother, how it took people who are like family to me, and still continues to try and take friends even to this day. But frankly, I am sick of writing about cancer, it lends cancer too much credit, credit it does not deserve.

My real reason for participating is to make sure I honor those who have passed by doing what they would want me to do today, and that is live. To me, it takes a lot to truly live. It is about experiencing everything real this life has to offer. Its about making sure I don't miss out on an emotion I can feel, a love I can grow from, a friend I can make, a food I can taste, a place I can visit, or an experience I can learn form. But to really live, we have to face our fears as well, and for those that know me well, I was never much of a fighter, so getting into a ring with another individual as a couple thousand people watch you get pummeled in the face, yea thats a big time fear for me. But this is what it is all about. This is living to the fullest. The good, the bad, the pain, the glory, all of it. I want to soak it all in.

So I fight. I fight to show the woman I will be making my wife this summer (given my nose is still in place) that she is marrying a man who can overcome obstacles. I fight to show our future children that their Dad set an example of hard work, having fun, and helping others. I fight to make my own Dad proud, and show him that I am taking advantage of the great opportunities he and my mom gave me. I fight to give my Mom something else to be mad at me about to distract her from whatever she is mad at me for currently. I fight for my younger brothers and sister, to hopefully inspire them that its never too late to face your fears. And ultimately, honestly, I fight for me. Given my family track record with cancer, this is about self preservation too, I'd be lying if I didnt say it.

All I know is when that final bell rings on May 19th, no matter the decision, I will look up, hopefully not from the ground, and think about all those loved ones whose fights are over,-Big Leo Rusk, Nana Mac, Papa Fitz, and my Dad- and know that they are looking back down at me and saying, "now you are getting it John... now you are learning how to live."