Losing someone you love is something so many of us carry. It’s a quiet, shared experience — one that connects families, friends, and communities in ways that often go unspoken. While every story is personal, the feeling of loss, love, and remembrance is something many of us understand. 

There are also moments that bring that loss into sharper focus — the first year without someone, birthdays, anniversaries, and the ages they never got to reach. These milestones have a way of asking us to pause, reflect, and find meaningful ways to remember. 

My mom passed away from leukemia at the age of 38 — the age I am turning this year. For me, this year feels significant, and I knew I wanted to mark it in a way that honoured her life, her memory, and the impact she continues to have on me. 

My mom had a deep connection to land and landscape. Our family’s lives stretched across the province — from the southern prairies to the forests and lakes in the north — and she carried a strong sense of home in those places. When I think of her, I think of strength, openness, and a quiet appreciation for the world around her. 

To commemorate her, I will be running over 1,500 kilometres across Saskatchewan, from Stony Rapids to the Saskatchewan–Montana border, beginning in May 2026. This multi-week journey will take me through the landscapes that meant so much to her — and still mean so much to our family. 

Through this run, I am raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada. The funds raised will support critical research, patient services, and advocacy efforts for individuals and families facing blood cancers. 

While this run begins with my story, it is not just about me. 

It’s for anyone who has lost someone too soon. 
For families navigating illness.