Cancer isn't a discerning disease. Most have known someone who has battled the disease and won: for me, it was my aunt, my grandmother, and my grandfather. Unfortunately, we've all likely known someone who has lost their battle as well. As a child, I witnessed my best friend's mother fight cancer and the toll that took on her family. In recent years, my aunt and grandfather lost their battle. I know firsthand how hard it is to focus on celebrating their life in the face of overwhelming grief.

When I first heard of Haymaker's for Hope, I knew I wanted to be involved, even though I was short on details. In April I was selected to participate and shortly after, I lost my uncle to cancer. After a long struggle, and as the disease spread, he felt the only way that he could defeat it was to take his own life. In our first meeting at Sibley Memorial Hospital, I couldn't help but focus on the loss of my uncle the day before. The setting was a constant reminder of something I wasn't ready to overcome, even in the best of settings. The Director of Oncology started reviewing their social service programs offered by the hospital and the way this helps patients cope with the disease not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially as well. While not everyone will be lucky enough to win their fight with cancer, the programs offer the opportunity to live as best they can, proving it is not the quantity of your life, but the quality of it.

Those affected by cancer don’t get a chance to choose their fight, but I do. Haymaker’s for Hope is an amazing program that gives people like me the chance to help make a small change in people’s fight against cancer through donations, sponsorships, and ticket sales. I’m honored to enter the ring in my first USA Boxing sanctioned event as an amateur fighter on Thursday, September 19th at The Anthem. No donation is too small and I look forward to seeing you in the crowd after being announced the WINNER!