I am raising funds for Alzheimer's Association. I will be competing in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon.

Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect one person—it affects an entire family.

At first, the changes are small. A forgotten appointment. A misplaced set of keys. A story told twice at dinner. Families often laugh it off in the beginning, assuming it’s just normal aging. But slowly, the moments become harder to ignore.

The disease begins to take pieces of someone you love.

A parent who once gave advice now struggles to follow conversations. A grandparent who never missed a birthday begins forgetting names. The person who helped shape your life slowly loses the memories that shaped theirs.

Personally, my Grandfather, Paul Pisarchick, battled this disease for many years. Before Alzheimer’s, my grandfather was one of the strongest people I knew. He was the kind of person everyone relied on—the one who fixed things, solved problems, and always had advice when someone needed it. He worked hard his entire life and built a family that looked up to him. Seeing someone who was once so strong slowly lose pieces of his memory is one of the hardest things our family has ever experienced.

For this reason, I am very proud to start this fundraiser to dedicate the funds to Alzheimer's research. My Grandfather was my biggest supporter in my long athletic career, so it only makes sense to honor him in this grueling Triathlon in the Icy waters and steep hills of San Francisco.

A small portion of the funds collected will help cover the competition entrance fee.