My best friend, Ryan Vieth, passed away from stage-IV colorectal cancer on December 22, 2024. He was one of those people who lit up every room he entered, which is why my nickname for him was Sunshine. When he was talking to you, he made you feel like yours was the most important conversation in the world.
Ryan was an incredible advocate for Fight Colorectal Cancer and for Man Up to Cancer. He went to Call-on Congress and led Climb for a Cure events in Colorado. The photo at the right is from Climb for a Cure in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Turns out, Climb weekend was the last time I would see him alive and in person.
Our friendship was brief -- just 835 days from the day we met until the day he passed away -- but it was life-changing for both of us. I promised I would continue to advocate in his memory, and I carry his name and photo into every patient advocacy space I enter.
I invite you to honor Ryan's legacy -- or those of the people you love -- by making a donation to my No Shave November campaign.