I was never a runner, I hated running, I did everything I could to get out of running in gym class. Then 2016 happened, I started getting into fitness, and my friend convinced me to sign up for my first 5k. September came, and tragedy struck. My boyfriend at the time, Ben, passed away suddenly from an overdose, my world was turned upside down and I didn't know what to do with myself. Exactly 2 weeks after he passed, it was time for the 5k. While running, I felt him with me through every step, and at the end of that race, I said to myself, I'm going to run 100 Miles for Ben in a year. I completed that challenge, and keep his spirit with me through every race that I do. That year I also raised over $1000 for addiction awareness, in addition to race fees that were also donated to various causes.

I never expected an overdose to touch my life, I've never done drugs and never intend to. So, when this affected my life so much, while doing everything I could to avoid it, it made me think; there are so many tragedies that we never expect touch our lives, and hope that they never do. For example, cancer, especially pediatric cancer. We never expect for that to harm us, we hope it never does, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist. So, this is why this is my third race weekend with Disney where I have chosen to run for Team Fired Up, Dragon Master Initiative!

Not only are they a wonderful organization that helps with cancer research, they're not a massive charity where the CEO makes hundreds of thousands a year. It's a mother and father who lost their son, David, to pediatric brain cancer, and have made it their life's mission to help so many others going through the same thing. I love running and fundraising with them because they take you in as part of their family! My past race in Disneyland, I ran with a photo of one of the children they help, pinned to my shirt. It's not just running for an organization that you don't know much about. You get to learn about what they do, how they help, who they help, and best of all, you get to know the founders on a personal level, so you know where every penny of your donations are going.

I never planned on doing this many races with them, but I will keep running for David the same way I keep running with Ben in my heart.

Your donation means the world to me, everyone it helps and to Dragon Master Initiative. 

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