My connection with ASK started in 2001. When I was just 18 months old, doctors found a germ-cell tumor near my tailbone. After about a year of treatment and several rounds of chemotherapy, I have now been cancer-free for over 25 years.

My relationship with ASK continued after that. In high school, I wanted to thank my oncology doctors and the ASK staff who supported my family, so I organized a small fundraiser for ASK. I sold handmade wristbands and hosted a spirit night at Glory Days Grill, where I worked as a hostess. That experience inspired my passion for giving back.

During college, I joined the Tri Sigma sorority at Longwood University and took part in our March of Dimes philanthropy. I also visited children at the Sigma Sigma Sigma Foundation's Robbie Page Play Atrium at UNC Chapel Hill Children's Hospital. One of my favorite memories from those visits was meeting a family whose daughter had cancer and lived not far from my parents in Virginia. As I sat with them, I felt a deep sense of connection and empathy, recalling the challenges my own family faced years ago. It was both heartwarming and humbling to realize how our stories are interconnected. I felt honored to meet them and share my story as a survivor, hoping to offer them some encouragement and to demonstrate the strength and resilience that can emerge from such adversity.

Now, I get to keep supporting ASK as their Marketing Content Coordinator. In this job, I help spread the word about ASK, childhood cancer, and the stories of our ASK families. Just like in college, I enjoy meeting our families and sharing my story to give them hope and help them feel comfortable, knowing their stories are being shared with care. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all our donors, volunteers, and participants. Your generous support, whether through donations, time, or effort, plays a crucial role in bringing hope and joy to those affected by childhood cancer. Thank you for reading my story and for supporting ASK through our annual ASK 5K & Fun Walk this year!