Help Kristina raise money

Anyone who knew my dad, Juan A. Perez Jr., remembers his laughter echoing through every room and his voice rapping "My Adidas" by Run-DMC just to see someone smile. He was the kind of person who made everyone feel like family, always putting others before himself. At my games, his cheers rose above the crowd, a sound I can still hear in my heart. He was truly my biggest supporter, never missing a chance to show me how much he cared.

When I was 15, my dad was diagnosed with Adrenocortical Carcinoma, a rare, aggressive, and fast-moving cancer. He underwent surgery to remove his tumor, but by then the cancerous cells had already spread to his liver, lungs, kidney, and stomach. Our family held onto every bit of hope we could find, but in the end, the cancer took him from us far too soon, only eight months after his diagnosis.

Adrenocortical Carcinoma starts in the adrenal glands and spreads throughout the body as it progresses. Only a handful of people per million are diagnosed with it each year around their 40s through 60s. So few people, including doctors, recognize the symptoms early (unexplained weight gain, new onset-high blood pressure, hormonal imbalances, and more), so the cancer is often caught only after it has metastasized. There's no routine screening for this cancer, and survival rates remain low even with treatment, which is exactly why further research is so desperately needed. 

My dad lived with his heart wide open, never holding back when it came to loving others. This year, I am choosing to show up for him, just as he always did for me.

I am running the Philadelphia Marathon to honor my dad and to support the American Association for Cancer Research. Their work gives hope that one day, cancers like his will be found sooner, treated better, and that other families will have more time together than we did.

Rare cancers like my dad’s are often overlooked, but the families facing them deserve the same hope and chance at healing. Every dollar raised is a step toward a future where fewer children have to say goodbye to a parent too soon.

Running 26.2 miles is nothing compared to the strength my dad showed every day. Each step I take is for him, for my mom, and for every family still fighting. If you are able, please consider supporting this cause. If you find yourself along the course on race day, be as loud as you can; my dad would have loved that.

Thank you for helping me carry my dad’s voice a little further. Your support means more than words can say!