Help Thomas raise money

"Hey knucklehead" was one of my dad's favorite things to say to me right before I did something stupid. I can still hear his voice and see the demanding glare I would receive, all to often. It’s one of those small things that never leaves you after losing someone you love.

In 2019, my dad passed away from cancer. Cancer doesn’t just impact the person fighting, it impacts entire families and communities. It is unbiased, cruel, and unforgiving. It changes everything from conversations to priorities, and eventually leaves behind an emptiness that never fully goes away. Not a day goes without me wishing I could talk to my dad, even if it's just him calling me a knucklehead. 

This November, I’ll be running the Philadelphia Marathon in support of the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). For me, this marathon is about much more than crossing a finish line. It’s about carrying my dad’s memory with me through every mile and turning loss into purpose.

Training for a marathon is hard and may even fall under “knucklehead” qualifications. There are early mornings, exhausted legs, injuries, and moments where quitting sounds pretty appealing. But whenever training gets difficult, I think about the fight my dad went through and the battles so many families are still facing today. Compared to that, 26.2 miles is nothing. 

I’m raising money for AACR because research creates hope. Every breakthrough, every treatment, and every advancement exists because people chose to support the fight against cancer. My goal is to raise $1,000 to help contribute to that mission and hopefully move us one step closer to a future where fewer families have to experience this kind of loss.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for allowing me to share a small part of who my dad was. Supporting cancer research either through donations, sharing this page, or simply spreading awareness, helps continue the fight against a disease that has impacted so many families.