What moment has mattered the most to you during your volunteer journey?
The moment that has mattered the most in my volunteer journey is seeing the faces of survivors, their families, and the families who have lost someone.  It’s a look of thank you, a look of we made it another year and we are keeping the spirit alive of a lost loved one.

Why do you want to volunteer for PanCAN?
I want to volunteer for PanCAN because my #1 cheerleader, my lady, aka Mom, was diagnosed in January 2014 and passed away May 31, 2015.  Attending PurpleLight turned into the start of my volunteering because I just couldn’t be silent.

What do you love about your role/affiliate?
My affiliate is amazing!  From day one, they made me feel at home.  And in all honesty, we do that with everyone that comes to our meetings or events.  I love all the details of putting on the race!  Working for months with our team for this one day.  Seeing the faces of the attendees and telling them they are not alone and that we are here for them.

What would people be most surprised to know about you?
The most surprising thing about me that even a lot of my friends don’t know is that I’m adopted.  It’s the reason that I used to work for the Boys and Girls Club as well as coached.  I wanted to give something back to kids in need, give them some guidance and to show them that someone cares.  Which goes back to PanCAN.  I volunteer to keep honoring my mom with hopes that I can help someone else as well.  Like I said at Summit, “I can’t give my mom a hug anymore, but I want to help others give their loved one a hug for a little while longer.”