Hi! My name is Ilinca. I am a 27-year old PhD student researching colorectal cancer at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and a cancer survivor myself. At the age of 18, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and have spent the last decade of my life undergoing multiple surgeries, radiotherapy and more in an ongoing effort to keep it under control. In this battle against cancer, I found a great passion for fitness.

As a challenge, I decided to enter the 2023 New York City Triathlon. I'd never run a triathlon before, but I love swimming, cycling and running, and for me it was a celebration of the health and strength that I do have. I really enjoyed it and surprised myself by coming in 2nd place of all females in my age group, qualifying me for the 2024 North American National Triathlon Championships held in New Jersey. At the Nationals I came in 13th place overall female in the entire country, qualifying me for the World Championships, and was officially invited to join the US National Triathlon Team for 2025.

I was incredibly excited to represent the United States on a global scale at the world championships this year, but unfortunately life got in the way and I am not able to attend this year. However, I have the chance to qualify again by running the 2025 National Triathlon Championships held in Wisconsin in August. Unfortunately, it would require way more funds than my student stipend allows for, so I am humbly seeking sponsorship to follow my national-scale competition goals. I am hoping to inspire not only women of all ages but cancer survivors of all shapes and sizes to not be afraid to face life's challenges, rise up and go conquer your dreams. I'm trying to embody what re-finding strength after fighting cancer can look like, celebrating what the human body/mind can achieve and really uplifting fellow athletes, and spreading nothing but love and gratitude to all the amazing people around me.

Donations will be spent on travel and accomodation for the race, the entry fees, training, and if possible upgrading gear to truly put forth my best effort to represent this country that I've so fallen in love with.