I have been a patient of Dr. Mihir Raval and NYOH since my original diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia in November 2019. I accepted the invitation to walk this year to show that cancer cannot define who I am or what I can do.
Since my diagnosis, I've turned my experience into purpose as a cancer advocate and speaker. I'm the Director of Membership and Onboarding with Man Up To Cancer, where I help strengthen community and support for people impacted by cancer, especially men, who often stay quiet about what they're facing when they need connection the most. Building that kind of community has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life, right alongside my own recovery.
Cancer changes you, but it doesn't have to be the thing that defines you. I've tried to stay candid about the hard parts and hopeful about what comes next, because I've seen firsthand how much it helps someone else to hear "me too." Staying informed, staying connected and keeping moving forward, one step at a time, has been the difference between surviving this and actually living through it.
The care I received at NYOH played a huge role in that. From my diagnosis through treatment, I was met with a team that treated me like a whole person, not just a patient chart. That's a big part of why walking for Rock Your Style means so much to me. It's a chance to give back to the same kind of care and community that got me here.
When I'm not advocating for the cancer community, you'll find me deep in the Star Wars universe. I'm a complete geek about it, and honestly, chasing something joyful and nerdy has been part of what's kept me going too.
Thank you for supporting my walk and for standing with everyone in this community who's still fighting, one step at a time.
