Being active and competing in sports has always been a big part of my life. Years of competitive fencing taught me discipline, drive, and how to keep showing up, even when things get tough. But even before I ever picked up a foil, I learned those values from someone far more important: my grandmother, my 婆婆.

When I was little, she and my grandpa would take me out for dim sum every single day without fail. She also raised five incredible daughters, poured love into everything she cooked, and lived with unwavering dedication. That kind of quiet strength and consistency doesn’t just leave a mark, it shapes who you become. On July 31st, 2022, we lost her after a brave battle with lung and colon cancer. Stepping into the ring is my way of honoring her memory and channeling the resilience she embodied every day.

Through Haymakers for Hope, I’m proud to fight not just for her, but for everyone whose life has been touched by cancer.