In March 2026, I’ll be running the Tokyo Marathon as part of Team ALS, raising funds and awareness for a cause that’s deeply personal to me.

My Aunt Karen was one of the most vibrant, caring, and courageous people I’ve ever known. In 2017, she was diagnosed with bulbar onset ALS — an aggressive form of the disease that took away her ability to speak, eat, and eventually breathe. After a brave three-year battle, we lost her in 2020. Watching her face this devastating illness with such grace changed me forever.

ALS doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed — it impacts entire families. And it moves fast. Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with ALS. Every 90 minutes, another family begins their fight.

That’s why I’m committing to raise $9,090 — one dollar for every second in those 90-minute intervals — to fund critical research, patient support, and, ultimately, a cure.

Running 26.2 miles through Tokyo will be an honor. But the real journey is in helping end ALS for good.

If you’re able, please consider donating. Every dollar brings us closer to hope, to breakthroughs, and to a future without ALS.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for being part of this fight with me.

With love and gratitude,

Nikki