Last year was my first year running as part of the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research team.  I had the names of 5 loved ones who had battled or were currently battling pancreatic cancer on my bib. At the time 2 had lost their battles and 3 were still valiantly fighting this horrific disease.  Today only one of them is still with us.

On November 15th, 2023 a truly beautiful soul lost his battle and left us. He was not even 40 years old and left behind a wife and a 2-year-old son. He was my dear friend Jamie’s brother Evan.

When I crossed the finish line last year, I swore to myself that I would never run another marathon because it was so hard physically and emotionally. But when I heard about Evan losing his battle, I knew that I had to run it again, and run for Evan. He fought life’s hardest fight until the end and never complained. It is the very least that I can do.

So, on March 17, 2024 I will lace up my sneakers and run my way through 26.2 hilly miles in Los Angeles in honor and in memory of Evan. All of my other warriors - Kate, Rosann, Frannie and Ryan (who is still fighting hard!) will spur me on as well.

The Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research is a charity that is dedicated solely to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. It is beyond crucial that progress is made in trying to find a cure. The statistics are grim; pancreatic cancer is the #3 cancer killer in the U.S. among both men and women - 9 out of 10 pancreatic cancer patients will die. This must be stopped.

Thank you for your support.