Breathe Deep 5K 2019

Last weekend I had the honor of photographing a very special walk for my longtime clients and friends, the Rigas. Matt and Kristin hired me all the way back in 2012 when their first baby, Jack, was born. Over the years, we have had about a dozen sessions together. Three years ago, as a 34-year-old non-smoker, Matt was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. At the time of diagnosis, the prognosis was incredibly grim. There is no cure for this type of cancer. But that has never stopped Matt from fighting. His life depended on groundbreaking studies and trials and drugs.

The Rigas and their family and friends have been working with LUNGevity, a private organization funding lung cancer research. For the last few years, Matt and Kristin have been integral in organizing the Breathe Deep Michigan 5K walk held in downtown Birmingham. And because of their efforts, their team has raised HUNDREDS of thousands of dollars.

It is with that crucial private fundraising that increasingly more effective drugs have been produced.

I cried tears of joy when Matt told me Saturday that his last scan came back clear.

There is no greater news than that. The fight is not over, but this is amazing. Funding is needed so that more families can get to hear those same words. If you’d like to donate, click here, and help bring another fighter the best news of all.