The cure for melanoma begins with me.

On August 7, 2023, my world flipped upside down. I was diagnosed with melanoma—the deadliest form of skin cancer. In some ways, it feels like it happened just yesterday. In others, like I’ve lived a hundred lives since. What I know for sure is that nothing has been the same since that day.

Before my diagnosis, I’d never had my skin checked. I had never even been to a dermatologist. I was completely unaware of how aggressive, unpredictable, and life-altering melanoma could be. I was healthy, active, young—and I truly thought skin cancer was something that happened to other people. Until it happened to me.

Melanoma doesn’t discriminate. It affects people of all ages, races, and walks of life. Every hour, more than two people in the U.S. die from skin cancer. And in 2024, melanoma diagnoses are expected to rise by over 7 percent. Those are numbers I can’t ignore anymore.

I’m participating in Miles for Melanoma to raise awareness, fund life-saving research, and honor everyone who’s been affected by this disease—including myself. This walk isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a symbol of resilience, of strength, and of the hope I hold onto every single day.

If you’re able, I’d be so grateful for your support. Whether it’s a donation, sharing this page, or simply scheduling your own skin check—you’re making a difference.

Thank you for being part of my story. I’m walking toward healing, toward progress, and toward a future where melanoma doesn’t get to write anyone else’s “Day One.”