Samantha-Jo Aiello

Our story

In September of last year, our world changed forever when my dad — my best friend, my hero — was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

At the time, I had just moved to Maui earlier that year for love and a new chapter. But no more than 36 hours after his diagnosis, my partner Chad and I got on a plane and came straight back home — because nothing mattered more than being with him.

From that moment forward, we never left his side.

Over the next five months, my dad was hospitalized five times, including one devastating 60-day stretch where every day felt like another battle. But he fought with everything he had.

Through pain, through setbacks, through blow after blow of bad news — he never gave up.

He was released from the hospital on Christmas Eve, and we got to spend one last Christmas and New Year’s together at home — a miracle we will treasure forever.

Watching my dad lose his faculties, his independence, and eventually his life was devastating beyond words.

We were desperate for answers, clinging to hope, trying to figure out whether to push harder for second opinions or surrender to hospice care.

We fought alongside him, every single day, until there was no more fight left — only love.

This walk is for him.

For the man who fought with every ounce of strength he had.

For the families who are still fighting.

For a future where no one else has to lose someone they love this way.

We walk for you, Dad. Always