My father seldom sought out medical attention. When he did, after being ill and losing roughly 50 pounds over several weeks, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. Shortly thereafter and three months shy of my college graduation, he passed away.

In addition, my niece developed cancerous tumors on her brain shortly after she was born. After extensive treatment and surgery she lost her bought with brain cancer at the tender age of two years old.

I will be fighting in honor of my father, James Wilson (1936 -2002) and niece, Simone Lyons (1993-1995) and everyone who has battled with or lost a loved one to cancer.