"As a young college student, having my mother sit down and reveal to my sister and I that she had breast cancer was heartbreaking. Cancer, the “Big C” as many people call it. was always something that lingered on the periphery of my life. It was something that happened to other people, until it wasn’t. My mother, blessedly, caught her cancer early and is now a proud survivor. But if I thought that I was not prepared for what she was going to have to go through as a cancer patient, I was woefully underprepared for the ramifications this diagnosis was going to have on my family who lost one of their main sources of income for a significant period of time. My mother had many foundations who were willing to assist with medication and treatment, but as a lower income household there was no one willing to cover something so underrated like a gas card to cover her getting to and from her radiation treatments or for someone to cover the mortgage for a month while she was too ill to go to work.

In addition, I get a front row seat to hear stories from my sister and experience the passion she has daily for the patients she assists who are just like our mother. Patients who no longer have to choose between paying for their treatment or paying for a food source. Individuals who no longer have to make the impossible decision between paying to keep the lights on or for paying for their child’s life saving medications. The Cancer Foundation’s mission is so unique and so underrepresented. When individuals hear “cancer”  they immediately think of chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Very few consider the financial consequences of putting your mental, physical, and financial effort into cancer treatment or recovery while still trying to afford the “basic” luxuries of life, a.k.a the social determinants of health. This is why in 2026 I chose to be a "Champion of Hope."

Here's how you can help:

• Donate: Contribute whatever you can. No amount is too small!
• Spread the Word: Share my fundraising page with your friends, family, and social networks. Let’s spread awareness so we can raise more!

Thank you for standing by me in this effort. Your support means the world to me!