"December 4th 2009: My high school had an away basketball game. Riding home from the game I asked my mom to stay at a friend's house. For some reason, she wouldn’t let me. I stopped home, and everyone was already asleep. My mom sat me down and told me that my dad was in the hospital.

His lung had collapsed while they were doing tests, and he had to stay for the weekend. It was the first time I had ever seen my dad in a hospital bed. The first time I'd ever even seen him sick. December 5th, 2009, my dad told me that he had stage IV cancer.

October 22nd, 2012: Three years and a lot of fighting later, he passed away.

It’s been a while since I lost him. I’ve learned to move forward, to find the very best of a less than ideal situation, and to look back on the times I had with my dad and smile. I've raised over $55,000 for cancer research, had the ability to help friends through similar situations, and connect with others on a deeper level. The loss of my dad will always be with me, but it has turned me into the person I am today. It has encouraged me to always say yes to exciting (and sometimes scary) opportunities, to love and appreciate the people in my life, and to stop taking life so seriously." -Alex, Ohio

Get Alex's Link Look- I CAN & I WILL. WATCH ME NECKLACE