I am fighting for anyone who has ever looked at a doctor's face and immediately known they were about to step into the ring for the greatest fight of their life. I am fighting for lives lost and lives gained, for all the loved ones of my loved ones who did not get to see the day when cancer was cured, and for all the friends and colleagues I've known who have been able to ring that bell and walk into the next bright, colorful phase of their journey. Because nobody should go through this fight without the world in their corner, and if I have to take some punches to the face so that someone else has a chance against this foe, then sign me up!

How I can make a difference 

It has always struck me that a cancer diagnosis can bankrupt the most vulnerable in our society or prevent them from getting the life saving care that we all hope we’ll never need.

The financial and social costs of cancer - including the medical costs, time off work for the patient and their caregiver, unavoidable expenses for housing, food, childcare and even transportation to receive care, and the absence of a loved one who cannot afford to be present to support a fighter during their battle - can be crushing. People with cancer are 2.5x more likely to file for bankruptcy than those without cancer, and patients in financial distress are at a much higher risk for early death compared to people with cancer whose finances are more stable. How can that be fair?

I’ve had the privilege to meet people from many varied backgrounds in my life, and to see how caring for family and friends unites us all even when our resources can differ immensely. My directly raised donations will support philanthropic initiatives at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that reduce this financial toxicity by supporting patients who face severe financial burdens. I am incredibly grateful that, with your support, we can make a real difference for real people during the hardest moments of their lives.