I am nominating Erik to be recognized for Keeping the Faith. He is a brain cancer survivor but if you’ve ever had the honor of meeting Erik you know he is much more than a survivor. He is kind, humble, and funny. He is a son, a brother, an uncle. He is a friend, a fiancé and a beloved member of this community and in my life. Erik has been participating in the 5K run for the past 4 years, following successful surgery and chemotherapy in 2015. This year Erik will be participating in the 5K race but from a different perspective since we found out this month he is having a recurrence of his brain tumor. Luckily we caught it early, have an excellent team of physicians and a deep faith that Erik will once again beat cancer.

Erik’s light and love are undeniable and as he goes through this journey again that light and love has not diminished once. Erik has joked that this surgery is happening because he is overdue for his “quarantine cut” and we’re just taking a little off the top. Erik’s humor and faith have played a huge role in reassuring himself and others that he will be fine and he has inspired many, including myself, to continue to keep the faith. I am so proud of my fiancé and how strong he is throughout this journey and how he continues to inspire others. I’m proud to be by his side and honored to nominate him for this recognition.