THE SOLDIER | NO MAN ALONE

This December, I’ll be running the California International Marathon. 26.2 miles, something I honestly never thought I’d be doing. I’m using this marathon as an opportunity to raise money for men’s mental health and suicide prevention, and hopefully help break the stigma around men speaking up about what they’re going through.

Recently a friend of mine told me she was running it in honor of her dad, whom she lost to suicide. When she told me, I immediately felt like it was something I needed to do too. I’ve lost a few people close to me to suicide, so this is something very important to me. With November being Movember, a month dedicated to raising awareness for men’s health, including mental health and suicide prevention, I felt like this was the right time to share what I’m working toward.

A while back, I started something on my Instagram called The Soldier. At the time, I felt like I’d kind of lost my way and wasn’t the person I knew I could be. I wanted to get back to who I was, mentally and physically, and start challenging myself again.

I started sharing my workouts, runs, and little pieces of that journey to keep myself accountable, but also hoping that maybe it could inspire someone else along the way. The more I’ve gotten into it, the more I’ve realized I want it to be about something bigger than just myself.

I think a lot of us are capable of so much more than we give ourselves credit for, and sometimes we just need that reminder that we can find our way back, no matter where we’re at in life. That’s really what The Soldier has meant to me from the beginning.

It’s not about being perfect or having everything figured out. It’s about continuing to show up for yourself, even when things aren’t easy, and knowing you don’t have to do it all alone. If sharing my journey can inspire even one person to start their own comeback, then it’s already worth it.

My fundraising goal is $2,620, representing the 26.2 miles I’ll be running. Any donation, big or small, would mean a lot to me. And even if you can’t donate, sharing this or checking in on someone you care about can make a difference.

The comeback starts with you. The mission is bigger than you.

THE SOLDIER: NO MAN ALONE