On May 27th, 2024, my mother told me she had been diagnosed with breast cancer back in April.
My mom chose to keep her diagnosis between herself and my dad while she quietly underwent a lumpectomy and began her fight. She is a woman of strength, resilience, and heart. While my siblings and I continued living our lives normally for months, she remained an incredible mother and friend—always present for us in every way—while privately fighting breast cancer.
She told my sister, brother, and me just before starting radiation. It was incredibly hard for our family, but we did everything we could to support her. On the days she had treatment, we always tried to do something in the city so she wouldn’t be alone. We would walk around Chinatown, get lunch, or do something simple to make the day feel lighter. One of my favorite memories is a day we spent walking through Chinatown and Little Italy together. I know she was tired and probably didn’t feel like walking all afternoon, but she did it for me. That is the kind of woman my mother is. She is my inspiration for running the NYC Marathon in 2026.
Nothing prepares you to hear the words, “I have breast cancer,” from the person you love most. It is my hope that one day we will find a cure so daughters, mothers, families, and friends do not have to live with the fear of losing someone they love. One in eight women are diagnosed with breast cancer. I am running 26.2 miles this November in honor of my mom, who is one of those eight—and for every other woman close to me who has faced this same battle.
This is for you, LGU <3