A local DMV native, I've been in athletics for my whole life, even turning it into a career. But I've never done combat sports. I found out about Haymakers earlier this year, and only a few months later, my little sister was diagnosed with cancer. In that moment, I knew I needed to step into the ring. My sister is, thankfully, now on the mend. She's winning her fight because research has gotten to the point where her form of cancer was a routine procedure. Most are not so lucky.

I fight for my Papou, who lost his 14-year fight with cancer when I was in middle school, my aunt, who went three rounds in the ring with cancer, eventually losing her battle just over ten years ago, my sister, and for everyone else who's still fighting their fight. I'm here to help make the experience my sister had a reality for more people who recieve this terrifying diagnosis. And I'm doing it the best way I know how: competing.