Labor day 2011 on a hike up Shirley Canyon at Palisades Tahoe my mom's leg started buckling. It got progressively worse until we finally turned around so we could go to the hospital to get her checked out. 24 hours later she was paralyzed on her right side and unable to communicate. She was 52, fit, active, and had no prior health conditions that would've made her a higher risk for stroke.

May and June are Stroke Awareness Month and Aphasia Awareness Month respectively. For the next 6 weeks, I'm joining Stroke Onward, a nonprofit founded by my parents in the aftermath of my mom's stroke, in raising money and awareness about the impact of Stroke and Aphasia. On June 20th (the day before my mom's birthday!) I'll run the Broken Arrow Skyrace: 18 kilometers and 3661 feet of elevation gain on a course that crosses paths with the same hike we had to cut short almost 15 years ago. My goal is to raise a dollar for every foot of elevation gained on this run.

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!