This September 13th and 14th,  I am climbing the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art for 24 hours straight as one of Legacy of Hope’s sponsored 24-hour athletes in the 8th annual PHL24 endurance event. I’m not a professional athlete by any means, but I move because I am able to. I run and challenge myself for those who can’t, and for those who are no longer with us.

Six years ago, I made a personal commitment—to live my life to the fullest and never stop pursuing movement in honor of my cousin, Jose Maria, who left us far too early. I remember the exact moment I got the call from my mother. I stepped out of my classroom because something felt off. On that same day, in the same city but different hospitals, both my grandpa and my cousin received cancer diagnoses. We had lost many close relatives to this horrible disease, but this time felt different.

I learned a lot from that experience: an early diagnosis can save lives, a healthy and stress-free lifestyle is underrated, cancer doesn’t discriminate, and that every day in the USA, 5,500 people receive a cancer diagnosis. My grandpa lost his battle just a week or two later, and my cousin took his last breath exactly one year after that day. When I received the news I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was overwhelmed with sorrow, grieving alone and far from my family. I was lost for words as I thought about my grieving loved ones, trying to find a way to cope with this loss. So, I put on my sneakers and dragged myself outside. I started running without a plan, tears rolling down my face. As I ran, my miles grew longer as my anxiety and grief were creeping in.

That day, I chose to do hard things: to chase the wind, to keep moving, and not to stop until my last breath. I began to run, pledging every race I ran to support cancer patients and research. If I could help even one person, if I could make a difference in just one patient’s life, then my mission would be complete.

This year, the Brown’s Super Stores PHL24 in 2025 fundraising goal is $250,000.  The goal is bold because our patients' needs are critical. With your support, achieving this goal will enable us to raise the money needed to continue making progress on the David N. April Emergency Patient Support Center and to provide critical support for cancer patients and families across Philadelphia and Camden when all other resources have been exhausted. 

I am committed to helping reach this goal, but also to advocating for early diagnosis and the importance of taking care of our health. We live in a healthcare system that is failing us, and there is a lack of education and open communication about cancer.  While this journey won’t be easy,  our commitment and resolve are unwavering. 

I promise never to quit, and I need your support.  Movement is a blessing and a privilege that we should all take advantage of. What better way to do this than by helping those who are struggling in our community? I will climb every hour, representing every soccer field my cousin never got to play on, and every dance floor we never got to dance on together. The 24-hour athlete team remains steadfast in our resolve to make a lasting impact on the lives of those who have nowhere else to turn.  We promise to leave our Legacy of Hope.

Check out Legacy of Hope's Emergency Patient Support Network which is literally changing lives and providing hope everyday. To date we’ve prevented hunger for over 7,700 cancer patients and family members living in Philadelphia.
 

Help me build bridges and close the gap so that no person or family member is ever turned away when they need help. I am truly grateful for your support.