I started swimming when I was around 3 years old. I joined my first summer league team at 5. And began swimming year-round with club teams by the time I was 8.

My Dad never missed a swim meet my entire career.

Even as I got faster and we traveled farther. Even when I went to college out of state and competed every weekend from fall through spring. Even when I made Nationals - my parents packed up my little brothers and drove 20 hours to watch me swim two races that lasted a total of 1 minute 15 sections - combined - two years in a row.

This persisted even into adulthood, with him (thankfully) flying out to see my brothers and I swim in the Catalina sprint triathlon, and later when we also 'Escaped' from Alcatraz.

He was always there. Until one day, he couldn't be.

Nearly 15 years ago, my Dad lost his battle with Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer that attacks the bone marrow. He passed away just nine months after his diagnosis.

He was my best friend.

For some reason, over the past year, I've found it nearly impossible to get myself back into the water. I'll go to the gym with my suit on...and walk. Or lift weights. Or stretch. I'll do almost anything else. But swimming - the sport that was such a huge part of our lives - has been the one thing I can't seem to do.

So I'm trying something different.

This August, I'm committing to swimming 5 miles to raise money for the American Cancer Society in support of cancer research and in honor or my Dad.

I know he would be incredibly happy to see me do this. And with every lap, I'll be thinking about all the years I looked up into the stands and saw him and my Mom cheering me on.

I'd like to think he's still cheering today. Just from a bench that's a little higher up.

If you'd like to support me - or honor someone you've loved and lost to cancer - I would be incredibly grateful. Every donation helps fund lifesaving research, and hope for millions more.