Thank you for supporting my run with a donation to the
Cancer Support Community Bear Fund!

Why I am Choosing to run for The Bear Fund

2025 is a year of growth and transformation, and two of those focus areas are centered around health/fitness and giving back/volunteering, so here we are. Signing up to run 13 miles when I’ve only ever run 4 miles seemed like a good idea :-)

When thinking about all the amazing charities out there that this could benefit, one that quickly jumped out was The Bear Fund. In the fall of 2019, my best friend Nick and his wife Heather’s youngest child Barrett ("Bear") was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer. Bear endured over 2 years of chemotherapy and 8 surgeries, including a liver transplant, to help him reach remission. His resiliency has always been a major source of inspiration for my family. Most kids battling cancer don’t have the resourcing that Bear had, so knowing this, Nick and Heather joined with the Cancer Support Community back in 2021 to establish The Bear Fund. This amazing charity provides navigation resource services and financial assistance so every child can Fight Cancer Like a Bear. It would mean the world to me, The Bakers and all the kids battling cancer (and their families) if you could donate any amount you’re comfortable with to this incredible and truly life changing cause. Here’s more…

The Need for The Bear Fund

• An estimated 9,550 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025.
• After accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14. About 1,050 children under the age of 15 are expected to die from cancer in 2025, according to the National Cancer Institute. Cancer in Children and Adolescents. 
• The average cost per day for childhood cancer treatments is $700 higher than that of adult cancer treatments. The average cost associated with childhood cancer is $833,000 for one child and one diagnosis (The Economic Impact of Childhood Cancer)
• One in four families lose more than 40% of their annual household income as a result of childhood cancer treatment-related work disruption, while one in three families face other work disruptions, such as having to quit work or change jobs. (2024 ACS Facts and Figures Report.)
• Parents have been found to report significant worsening of all their own health behaviors, including poorer diet and nutrition, decreased physical activity, and less time spent engaged in enjoyable activities 6 to 18 months following their child’s diagnosis. (2024 Coalition Against Childhood Cancer)