Hi! My name is Nikki and I’m participating in this year’s Miles for Melanoma 5k at the San Francisco Zoo. We are running for my dad, Ralph, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma in July 2025. He has gone through countless treatments, radiation, and 3 surgeries. Melanoma research is important to me because it saved my dad’s life. Thanks to God and amazing doctors like Dr. Funchain from Stanford, my dad has responded very well to treatment. Melanoma research helps support finding more cures to Melanoma. Because of all of the efforts made in the past decade for Melanoma fundraising and research, there are many breakthrough treatments, such as immunotherapy that are actively working for treating Melanoma patients, including my dad! Donating not only makes a difference but it saves lives.