When I first heard the word cancer, my reaction was simple. It’s a terrible disease, and we need to cure it as quickly as possible.

That perspective changed completely when my younger brother was diagnosed with stomach cancer a few years ago, which was eventually a battle that was lost. My brother was an absolute warrior, and I could not have been prouder of how he fought.

What was once an abstract idea quickly became real. I got a firsthand look at what fighting cancer truly means, not just in theory, but in everyday life. It’s not just about the diagnosis. It’s the daily battle. The treatments. The side effects. The hospital visits. The procedures. The uncertainty. The constant physical toll and, just as challenging, the mental warfare that comes with it.

Cancer isn’t just a disease you try to cure, it’s a fight that people endure hour by hour, day by day.
As one of his caregivers, I learned something else: you can only do so much. You can’t step in and fight it for them. You can’t take away the pain or the fear. The best you can do is show up, support, and be there in any way you can.

That's why Hope Connections for Cancer Support means so much to me. As a member of its board, I've seen how life-changing it is for people facing cancer and for the families who stand beside them. Every day, Hope Connections provides free programs that help patients, caregivers, survivors, and those grieving a loss find connection, encouragement, and Hope because no one should face cancer alone.

Last year, I attended a Haymakers for Hope event and watched a friend, someone who had survived cancer, step into the ring and fight. What he did was truly inspiring.

I may not have been able to fight my brother’s battle for him, but this is my opportunity to fight for something bigger.

That’s why I applied.

I’m fighting:
• For those who are still in the middle of their battle
• For the families and caregivers supporting them every step of the way
• And in honor of those who are no longer with us

Cancer is relentless, but so are the people fighting it.
This fight is for them.