If you know me, you know this post is unlike me.

I’m usually a guy who stays comfortably behind the scenes - preferably a screen. I’m private, a bit shy, and definitely not one to post anything personal on social media.

But a few days ago, I was scrolling Instagram and came across an ad for this fundraiser. Run 100 miles in February, raise money to fight cancer. The cause was personal to me and something I care about - so I clicked for more information. Now here I am.

Setting this up was easy. I saw an ad and clicked a few buttons. Less than five minutes to set up the default campaign and another one minute to make my own donation.

The easy part was quick and comfortable and from the warmth of my home behind my favorite little screen. The hard part is still ahead.

I am running 100 miles this February. I don’t have a treadmill so it is just me, the Michigan winter, and the icy roads. As a casual runner, the distance is a challenge but as the father to a three-year-old and a three-month-old, the time is an even bigger one.

I know how precious that time is because I lost my father to cancer when I was 25, and my mother when I was 35. I would give anything for more time with them, and today, my family is my world. As much as I don’t want to dedicate the time away from them for this challenge, I'm doing it because I want my children to see that we don't shy away from "hard" when it matters. I want them to see that "easy" actions - like a small donation or a few miles - can stack up to make a massive difference for families fighting the same battle my parents fought.

The American Cancer Society stands to help the fight against cancer by turning our donations into research and advocacy; into support for patients and their families. I can step out from my shell and be uncomfortable for a month if it means helping them make the hardest journey a family faces just a little bit easier.

If you can donate, please donate. Help me and the American Cancer Society help others. Even If you can’t donate, I’d love it if you could share this effort and cheer me on - I will need it soon!

-Ed