A little less than a year ago, I never would have called myself a runner. But in 2024, I set a goal to run my first marathon with no prior experience, pushing myself farther than I ever thought possible. Now, I'm taking on the 2025 New York City Marathon - not just for myself, but for the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

This year, I also set a personal challenge to run at least a mile every single day, and so far, I haven't missed a day. Some runs feel effortless, but others are a struggle. There are days when my legs feel heavy, when I'm exhausted after a long day, when I just don't want to lace up my shoes. But no matter how tough it gets, I remind myself that this challenge is nothing compared to the battles these kids face every day. Every step I take is for the kids who can't.

St. Jude is leading the fight against childhood cancer, ensuring that families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Since opening its doors, their groundbreaking research has helped raise the childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to over 80%, and they won't stop until no child dies from cancer.

What makes St. Jude even more incredible is that their impact extends far beyond their own hospital. Unlike many research institutions, St. Jude freely shares every medical breakthrough with doctors and scientists around the world. That means a child receiving cancer treatment anywhere, whether in a small-town hospital or a leading research center, can benefit from the discoveries made at St. Jude. Treatments developed have helped save countless children globally, giving hope to families who may never even step foot inside St. Jude's doors.

This race, on the biggest stage in the world, is my way of giving back - helping to fund treatments, research, and hope for the kids who need it most, and I'm honored to have the opportunity to run for these kids. Every donation, big or small, makes a difference. Together, we can cross both the finish line and the fundraising goal, bringing St. Judge one step closer to a world without childhood cancer.

Thank you for your support - let's run for the kids!