After a horrific battle with Cancer, Gram came to the end of the road on February 12th, 2008, just 3 days before my 29th birthday. She and I were very close, but I have no regrets. I made my peace with her, said my goodbyes, told her how much I loved her and would miss her....

She passed around 1:30 in the morning in her home, going quietly in her sleep. While I mourn never seeing her again, holding her hand or hearing her voice, I am so thankful I had the chance to know and love her as I did.

Now comes the part of grief I have never quite understood. The part where you learn to live again after all the heartache and the memories. The part where you can smile through your tears and say I am a better person because of her, because I am.

This year I vow to use my grief as a propeller, to move me forward into the fight, to force me forward as I have never been motivated to fight before. No one should have to watch someone they love die in such a way. Cancer is a horrible, faceless monster, and I am glad to say her monster died with her.

Hi All,

I am starting this team in loving honor of My Grandma, Nancy Cleese. She has fought an aggressive form of cancer for almost 5 years now, and her battle is nearing its end. Our family is making their peace with her, planning her death, and thinking of how we will possibly live on after a woman as wonderful and loving and silly and fun as she is passes on. We know she will always be with us in some way. 

This year, please join me in making my mark. I would love to raise $15,ooo in Grandma's memory, because I know come July, she will have left this world. She will have definitely made her mark.

I ask you to help me fight this disease with all you have in you, because maybe today you have never watched someone you love die of cancer. It is a truly horrific fate. To watch someone wither and die like a beautiful flower without any water. I have lost many loved ones to cancer. Someday it may be me. Our family history could make it so. Cancer is not picky. It is not race or gender specific. It could be any one of us, for any reason, or for no reason at all. We must help FIND A CURE. For our loved ones. For our children. For the future.