We’ve been running and adventuring together for as long as we’ve been a couple. Brett and Mallory met in graduate school and quickly bonded over long runs, hikes, dogs, curiosity, and a shared chaos of research deadlines and packed gradulate school schedules.

Running has always been a deep connecting force for us, even as life has shifted. This year, in celebration of our 40th birthdays, we decided to take on fresh long-distance challenges while balancing work, a young family, and very full lives. Brett is training for a 50k (30-mile) trail run, and Mallory is training for a full marathon (26.2 miles) on the road.

Different races, different terrain, same spirit.

Cactus Cancer Society is deeply personal for both of us. Mallory founded the organization in 2014 after her own experience as a young adult cancer survivor, driven by the isolation she felt and the belief that no one should have to navigate cancer alone.

For Brett, this work has been part of his life from the very beginning. His father died of cancer when Brett was just two years old, and in the years that followed, his mom started a brick-and-mortar cancer resource center in their community—instilling in him the importance of care, connection, and showing up for others in the aftermath of loss.

Brett has been there from day one of Cactus Cancer Society—cheerleader, sounding board, and always-on tech support. In fact, the organization wouldn’t exist without him. When Mallory was trying to imagine what might come next after graduate school, Brett asked a simple but powerful question: What would you do for a year if you could do anything you wanted?

That question became Cactus Cancer Society.

This campaign, and these miles, are our way of celebrating 40 years of life, resilience, and community, while supporting young adults facing cancer today.

Join us in raising crucial funds for Cactus Cancer Society while we celebrate 40 years!!!

More about Cactus Cancer Society:

Be there for that next young adult who is facing cancer and looking for someone who understands. Show them they are not alone.

Cactus Cancer Society is the only organization offering diverse online support programs regardless of cancer diagnosis and regardless of where these courageous young survivors live, allowing unparalleled accessibility to survivorship support. Each year, 80,000 young adults (ages 18-39) are diagnosed with cancer and the future they had once planned for is dramatically altered. Suffering from often extreme isolation, these young adults need connection to one another, their concerns to be validated, and a safe space to process their new normal. Reducing isolation, and offering social interaction and creative opportunities have been shown to increase quality of life.

Cactus Cancer Society is a community funded charity that provides all programs at no charge to young adults facing cancer.

Your support will share stories to end isolation.

Your support will offer a safe space to young adult cancer survivors.

Your support will bring young adults facing cancer together, regardless of the time of day and where they live.

Your support will show these young adults they have peers who understand what they are facing.

One young adult at a time, you make a difference.

40th Birthday Run!

Join us in celebrating 40 years of life while supporting young adults facing cancer!