Losing my sisters Jill and Leigh to cancer within just six months nearly shattered me. They were my closest friends, my confidants, my cheerleaders and beloved companions through life’s journey. Taken far too soon, they battled this relentless disease with courage until their very last breaths. I watched helplessly as their beautiful bodies were ravaged by disease and their cheeks became hollows. As they lost their hair, their strength, the ability to move without help, and finally, the great struggle for their lives.

Cancer is ruinous and our family has been touched often by its awful parasitic hand; its cruel grip leaving scars we will always carry. Yet in the depths of our immeasurable grief, my sister Dana and I made a commitment: we vowed to fight against this merciless foe. We simply cannot stand idly while cancer continues to claim lives.

That’s why I’m asking for your support as I take on the Susan G. Komen 3-Day, a 60-mile walk dedicated to the fight against breast cancer. The challenge will be tough, but it pales in comparison to the struggle of facing breast cancer itself. It’s not as hard as enduring chemo, as anxiously awaiting scan results, or as difficult as saying goodbye. This walk, and the funds raised through it, are about one goal: ending breast cancer once and for all. That’s why I’m walking. That’s why I’m asking for your help. Together, we can make a difference.