I've always loved Haymakers for Hope's mission, and have been involved over the past few years as a training/sparring partner and on the business strategy side. I even got my wife, Rebecca, to sign up for the 2017 NYC event! Unfortunately, I've never been able to participate as an athlete given my existing college boxing experience...until now. 

Cancer rears its ugly head in everyone's life, including mine. Last year, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, which was fortunately caught at an early stage and treated. Others have been less fortunate, most notably Rebecca's late grandfather, who was diagnosed with a fairly late stage stomach cancer which had affected his ability to eat and digest both solids/liquids. His conditioned rapidly deteriorated, but when he heard that Rebecca and I were engaged, he fought to stay alive until we were able to visit him in Taiwan so that he could meet me and see her one last time. Even in the midst of such sorrow, his strength and perseverance was deeply moving, and inspires me even to this day. 

This is the kind of perseverance that I hope to emulate during the Boston Marathon, which will be my first marathon ever. In fact, I have never run more than 5 miles straight until last September. When I ran cross country in 6th grade, I was so slow that I often got lost on the routes since there was no one around to follow. I was told that I had a "weak heart", and that I just wasn't cut out to be a runner. It's a belief that I've held until now, and one that I've finally decided to eradicate.

Please help support me and this great cause by making a donation. Every bit counts and I greatly appreciate it.

- Robi Cai