Erin was 13 when her dad died of brain cancer. Three years later, she was diagnosed with an astrocytoma, just like her dad. For the past two years, she has been strong in dealing with her illness. She just finished a year of chemotherapy, and although it was tough, her sense of humor and quick wit shined through even the worst days. Erin has excelled in school despite her health problems. She participated in academic decathlon and was on honor roll. Erin has never let cancer prevent her from having a normal life. She is blessed to be surrounded by people who love her, including her huge extended family and her chihuahua Korver. She is a perfect example of a quote by her namesake: “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” -Michael Jordan