Every year, I get on a bike and ride for my own Suffer Fest. Not for medals. Not for glory. For the Adult Congenital Heart Association. For the millions like me who live with scars you don’t always see. This year marks 36 years since my own heart surgery—more than three decades of beating odds and expectations. This year, I’m once again riding 50 miles to honor that fight.

But here's the deal: for every $100 we raise over the goal $5,000, I’ll tack on another mile, up to 75, because this isn’t just a ride. It’s a way to say, "Odds can be beaten." That science matters. That support matters. That this community, kids who were fortunate enough to grow up into adults, is still pushing forward.

If you can find it in you (and your wallet), please donate to this year's Suffer Fest. Help me turn miles into meaning.