When I was in middle school, one of my childhood best friends, Cecilia, was diagnosed with a brain tumor that later turned out to be cancerous. I remember how quickly everything changed. One day we were just kids going to school and figuring out what to do after school. We’d hang out at the mall, go to the movies, or just walk around Frederick Road in Catonsville. The next, her life was filled with doctor visits, hospital stays, and treatments no child should ever have to go through.

Our hangouts quickly turned into hospital visits and time spent together at home when she was discharged, sometimes only to see her readmitted again not long after. Watching someone I cared about go through that showed me how quickly a diagnosis like this can turn a child and their family’s world upside down. The fear, the uncertainty, and the strength it takes to keep going through it all.

That experience has stayed with me ever since, and it’s why this cause is so personal to me. This year I’m running the New York City Marathon with the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation to support the kids and families who are facing this fight right now.

If you’re able to donate, your support will help fund research, resources, and support systems for children diagnosed with brain tumors and the families going through this journey with them. Thank you for helping me turn these 26.2 miles into something meaningful for kids and families facing this fight.