Mama Joy is my brother’s African mother, but over the years she has become family to all of us. She’s the kind of person whose smile lights up a room, and when she talks about the children in her neighborhood, her whole face glows. She is the protector for all the children, always making sure they feel safe, welcome, and hopeful. Her backyard is more than just a home—it’s a school, a safe haven, and a place where kids can grow up surrounded by love.

Mama Joy is known as the best cook in the world, not just because she loves food, but because she is determined to make sure everyone around her is fed and nourished. Her generosity is rare; she gives everything she has to her community, never asking for anything in return. Even now, after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer, she would rather use what little money she has to keep supporting her community than spend it on her own health. That kind of selflessness is why we cannot let her carry this alone.

To raise support, I am training for and running my first marathon as a personal challenge dedicated to Mama Joy. If you can, please consider donating $26 for 26 miles, but truly, every dollar counts toward a bigger goal. All funds raised will go directly toward her cancer treatment so she can get strong and healthy again and keep doing what she was born to do—impacting the world around her. Please help us come together for her the way she has always shown up for everyone else.