Hi Everyone,

I’m reaching out for a little help with a goal I’ve set for myself. Since moving back to Philadelphia and living so close to the Art Museum, I’ve had the desire to be part of one of the races that start there. As most of you know, I’ve always been active and have spent much of my life on a team—whether it was softball, field hockey, basketball, or anything else competitive. If I can do it with others and push myself, I’m all in.

Now that I’m in my 30s, it’s been harder to find people who are as competitive as I am (with the exception of my McCrossen Schlouws—love you guys!). Even so, I still have to play nicely in the bar softball league. So, I turned to running as a way to compete with myself. If you know me, you know I wasn’t exactly built to be a runner. Growing up, I saw running as a punishment in team sports. But somehow, I’ve grown to like it—well, tolerate it. It’s a chore, but on the days I don’t run, I feel off.

Last year, I set my sights on training for a half marathon, partially thanks to Kevin buying me a fancy Garmin watch. Since then, this watch has bullied me relentlessly. I’ll finish a run feeling amazing, only for it to tell me I did a mediocrejob. Asshat.

That said, I’ve been building my endurance and shifting my mindset—learning that racing isn’t just about speed. And now, I’m finally ready. I’ll be running the 2025 Philadelphia Love Run on March 30, 2025!

The Love Run supports Legacy of Hope, an organization dedicated to ensuring that no cancer patient or family goes hungry or has to worry about housing. Many of you reading this have been personally affected by cancer—whether through family, friends, or in your careers.

During my time at the University of Pennsylvania, I had the privilege of supporting the healthcare system in many areas, but my most rewarding experience was working with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). We cared for children diagnosed primarily with neuroblastoma, a cancer that, in many cases, is terminal. The treatment we supported was considered palliative, but research is showing that Iodine-131 therapy may help extend life expectancy.

The cost of these treatments is astronomical. Without funding from clinical trials, many families wouldn’t have access to them. I’ve seen firsthand the financial burden and overwhelming stress cancer places on families—whether it’s parents caring for a child or a young adult taking care of a parent. If your employer isn’t understanding, the situation can spiral fast.

One thing that always amazed me while working with pediatric patients at CHOP was their ability to still be kids. Childhood cancer isn’t for kids. It forces them to grow up too fast. But whether out of ignorance or sheer resilience, these kids still wanted to play, laugh, jump, and run—even when their bodies couldn’t keep up. As a radiation safety, I had to discourage some of their activities…but they still had the will to do them.

That’s why I’m running—to run for those who no longer can.

If a person can endure two months of chemo along with 30 rounds of radiation, I can run 13.1 miles.

Below is the link to my fundraising page. Every dollar counts. Thank you in advance for your support, and I hope to see some of you along the race route!

Nieves Love Run 2025

Legacy of Hope Homepage

Best,
Ash