Almost exactly one month after the DC Beltway Brawl III is my 30th birthday. If anyone had told me I’d be spending the last year of my twenties training to be punched in the face, I’d have laughed in their face… and yet, here we are.



This past decade, I’ve experienced my own personal physical and mental health journey, and by no means has it been easy. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my community of family, friends, and even professional networks who have provided the perfect balance of consistent support, unbiased encouragement, and when needed, tough love.



There’s not one person I know in my community who hasn’t been affected by cancer in some way - I’ve seen friends care for parents, raised funds for colleagues experiencing their own battles, and watched both my stepmother and grandmother kick cancer’s ass… I mean tuchus, sorry Gram.



To my community that has done so much for me over the past ten years - pushing me, comforting me, challenging me, and overall providing more love than any one person deserves - I fight for you and yours, for the important people of my important people, so one day all our communities will be cancer-free.



Specifically, I dedicate this fight to: Grammy Alice, Deborah Kasindorf, Mike S., Adina Jick, Kenneth Sikora, Shane Lee, Marty Regan, Helen Lefkowitz, Dave Trapani, Ann Porter Matheny, Ray Baker, Beverly Kelly, Bruce Waring, and Mark Ronan.