To celebrate 25 years of being cancer-free, I will be racing in Ironman California on October 18, 2026, to raise money for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Hi, my name is Brandon Zhu, and 25 years ago, I had the privilege of being treated by some of the best doctors and nurses in the world at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. At the age of one, I was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare form of childhood eye cancer, and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Thanks to CHLA, I can see out of one eye, and for that, I am incredibly grateful.

My friends and I joke that I failed to capitalize on my Make-A-Wish opportunity…Well, I suppose it’s never too late to try. My wish is to complete this race and raise $50,000 to help the kids at CHLA in their fight against cancer. I can’t do this alone, and the kids and I need all the help we can get.

It truly is a privilege to be able to choose your suffering, and unfortunately, these kids don’t have that choice.

Thank you for reading. If you are able, please consider donating or simply sharing this fundraiser and helping me turn 140.6 miles into an opportunity to give more kids the chance to grow up and chase their own finish lines.