09/24/2026
I’m trying to find the right words to say without making this about us. So bear with me. I refuse to use AI for something like this so if I’m not grammatically accurate you’ll just have to forgive me.
When we started this foundation, we knew we would be locking arms with the families we serve and trying to make life a little better for them. Through that, we have the privilege of getting to know them. Some families choose to share more of their journey with us, while others understandably keep things more private. The help we provide looks different for every family because every family has different needs. And sometimes, we even get the incredible privilege of watching our kids play together and seeing these families become part of our lives in ways we never expected. All of it is beautiful, all of it.
But even in the beauty of it, this has been a heavy week. We have several fathers who you have all supported through your generosity who have received some devastating news about their diagnoses. On Monday, Jed Malcolm passed away while surrounded by his family and friends. Jed was an incredible man, father, and husband. And last week, I read a CaringBridge post from Brian Jenkins and learned that he will be stopping treatment and beginning comfort care.
Brian’s character and love for his family stand out as qualities us fathers can only hope to emulate. Brian spoke at our very first Station 7 event. Jed spoke at it last year. Brian completed our very first 12 mile Ruck fundraiser the day after his chemo treatment, and Jed completed our 15 mile Ruck event while undergoing treatment.
What stands out the most with these two men is that they showed up. They showed up to our events, they showed up for their families, and they showed up for their friends. But most of all, both of these men had a relentless faith in God. It has been my experience, and my observation of these two men, that our faith in God does not fade with suffering. It is set on fire because of it. And as more fathers and families suffer from this awful disease, I can only hope that others find some comfort in knowing that there is a promise of eternal life waiting for us on the other side.
My days of blogging are in the past, but occasionally I’m blessed with the time and energy to share what’s weighing on my heart. Grief and pain are the natural costs of loving deeply. In a book I finished a few weeks ago called The Meaning of Your Life, Arthur Brooks teaches us that suffering is a natural and necessary counterpart to love and happiness, and how avoiding pain can ultimately rob life of some of its deepest meaning. He said, “If you love, you will lose, and when you do, the pain is inescapable.”
So put the phone away, love your family, show up for people, and thank God for what He has given you.
Love,
Austin
