Hello! This fall (9/27/26) I will be running my very first marathon in Boulder, CO! Aside from wanting to prove to myself what I am capable of, I wanted something and someone meaningful to run for. In honor of my late grandmother, Joan Kline and my dear friend, Andrew Allers, I will be raising money for kidney cancer research. — Grandma was a beloved mother of 4 and grandmother of 10. Vegetables were always an area of concern for me as a kid, so I opted for my grandma’s cheesy potato casserole. Grandma’s cooking and Christmas dinners at her house will always be a cherished memory of mine as a kid. In 1995 one of Joan’s kidneys was infected with cancer and was removed. Doctors told her she had 2 years to live. Joan kicked kidney cancer’s ass and lived for another 18 years. She passed in 2013 when her only remaining kidney failed during surgery. Her strength to keep on going will forever be an inspiration. — Andrew was diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2015 which progressed all the way to stage IV by 2019. Andrew has even traveled to Washington D.C. where he shared his story with our nation's policy makers in hopes of more support to this cause. More importantly, Andrew is an outstanding friend, father, and husband to such a wonderful network of friends and family I have come to know and love for over a decade. Not to mention he might make the greatest cappuccino you've ever had. Andrew has been able to take this disease that he has battled for so many years and find the silver lining in all of it. His ability to shed some light in a dark time is a testament to the kind of man he is and is something we should all strive to look for in any situation. If you'd like to read more about Andrew’s story "You Only Live Twice" I will provide a link below. I highly recommend reading! — This run is for those who had the courage to keep fighting. Please consider donating to this cause and thank you for taking the time to read this! :) — https://www.kidneycancer.org/andrew-allers/