My name is Jonathan Jaworski and on March 15th, 2027 I will be embarking on a 385mile journey across the state of Arizona, on foot, from Lupton at the New Mexico border to Topock at the Colorado River; along the historic corridor of Route 66.

I will be doing this to raise money and awareness for pediatric cancer, in honor of my best friend Mark who passed away from a rare pediatric cancer 20 years ago. Mark was one of my closest friends and the greatest teacher of my life. Mark fought like hell but ultimately lost a six-year battle with childhood cancer, a loss that never stopped shaping the man I became.

Mark was known for his love of sports, his baseball and football card collection, and an endless capacity for goofing around and causing trouble. He was the kind of person who lit up every room he walked

into, and even as he battled his illness for six years, he never stopped looking out for the people he loved.

While he was sick, Mark started a pediatric cancer foundation where he raised money for research, started a fellowship on the oncology floor at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and started a toy drive for kids in the hospital on Christmas after spending a Christmas there himself and seeing none of the kids get a toy. Mark was always about giving back, even in his suffering.

Every dollar raised through the Arizona Run will go directly to the pediatric oncology department at Phoenix Children’s Hospital — one of the nation’s leading pediatric medical centers and Arizona’s primary center for pediatric cancer care. Every dollar raised will go directly toward supporting research, cutting-edge treatment, and the

families fighting alongside their children every day.

Why do this? It is a way for me to honor my best friend the way he taught me. Mark took his illness and fought not only for himself, but for other children suffering like him. I’m going to run for him, and for all the kids fighting the fight.