For one trail runner, the love of running began in the quiet landscapes of Onalaska, Washington, where seven-mile loops around her childhood home became a cherished routine. Her passion deepened after moving to Breckenridge, Colorado, where she traded paved roads for rugged trails and dreamt of conquering the legendary Leadville Trail 100. In 2015, at just 25, she entered the race lottery and won a spot. Though she timed out at mile 87, the experience fueled her determination. By 2016, after a season of disciplined training, she returned stronger, finishing the 100-mile race in 22:30:30 and earning fourth place among women. It was the start of her journey as a competitive athlete.

Yet, making a living from trail running proved far more challenging than conquering mountains. Unlike major leagues such as the NBA or NFL, trail running is a grassroots sport, with minimal prize money and limited sponsorship. Even prestigious races like Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB) offer modest rewards, and travel costs often outweigh earnings. Over the past decade, sponsorships have evolved once dominated by small gear companies, now joined by larger brands and, most recently, non-endemic partners from outside the sports industry. This shift opened doors for athletes to find alternative support systems that value individuality over uniform branding.

It was this changing sponsorship landscape that led her to an unexpected partnership — OnlyFans. Initially hesitant due to the platform’s reputation, she discovered that it had expanded beyond its adult content roots to host creators across fitness, music, and sports. Through her agent, she learned about the OnlyFans athlete program, which sponsors professionals across disciplines. Inspired by the Sports Illustrated Body Issue, she joined in March 2025, creating tasteful, athletic imagery that celebrates strength and dedication. The platform’s inclusive stance on body expression and content ownership offered her both freedom and control, a refreshing contrast to traditional brand restrictions.

However, just as her athletic career was gaining new momentum, an unforeseen diagnosis transformed her life. In March, after withdrawing from a race in Argentina due to a hamstring issue, she noticed persistent physical changes. Medical tests revealed a 12x12x3 cm mass on her left ovary, later confirmed as stage one ovarian cancer. Surgery and subsequent pathology upgraded the diagnosis to potential stage three, leading to chemotherapy that began on August 1. The treatment regimen, every three weeks through November brought her competitive season to a sudden stop. For an athlete whose emotional processing was tied to movement, the shift to enforced stillness proved deeply painful.

The physical and emotional consequences were profound. Chemotherapy left her fatigued, vulnerable to illness, and grieving the loss of motherhood, as her hysterectomy and hormone-sensitive cancer ruled out fertility preservation or replacement therapy. She spoke candidly about hysterical crying, humor, and short hikes as her coping mechanisms, determined to find resilience amid exhaustion. Her vulnerability resonated with fans and the broader running community, who rallied around her story of endurance off the trails.

Throughout this ordeal, OnlyFans’ support proved vital. The platform not only maintained its sponsorship but extended compassion and flexibility, allowing her to focus entirely on recovery. Their partnership stands as a symbol of evolving athlete-brand relationships, one where authenticity and humanity matter more than image. As she undergoes her final rounds of chemotherapy, her sights remain set on 2026 for a hopeful return to racing. With courage, community, and creativity, she’s rewriting what it means to be an athlete proving that strength isn’t just measured by miles run, but by how one keeps moving forward.