We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. —Kenji Miyazawa

Six months to live seems like a drop in the bucket in the grand scheme of things. Six months to get the rest of your life in order and tell all those you love just how much they meant to you, yet in the short six months Pops had left, we accomplished so much more then making arrangements and memories. Pops set a fire in my belly that no one could extinguish, not even the inevitable passing of my hero.

In the past, we have spoken about a bucket list of sorts that Pops and I made, and while we were able to scratch off many of the things on that list, there was one that I wanted to accomplish while he was still with us, and while he passed before I could complete my mission, I was determined to accomplish what I had set out to do.

When I look back on Pop's legacy, I am constantly reminded of the love and compassion he had for people. He loved without fear and accepted everyone for who they were, and much like myself, was loyal to a fault, and there was nothing more that my father loved than feeding people. He took great pride and enjoyment feeding those that entered his home, and would nag you to eat until you pleaded to leave the table.

Towards the end of his journey, Pops had stopped using his feeding tube and had acquired cases of unused boxes of shakes that kept him nourished. Through some hospital staff, I had learned of a woman that also had a feeding tube, but was unable to afford the shakes needed to keep her, essentially, alive. Without hesitation, Pops and I agreed to donate the remaining boxes to this woman.The thought that someone could be battling cancer and not have the means necessary to feed themselves truly haunted me.

It was in the wake of Pops' passing, and the need to busy myself, I began the journey of continuing his story as I had promised; I formed a non-profit that would give those battling cancer the means necessary to provide for themselves, as well as their families.

From sadness came great hope, and that hope birthed The Humbled & Hungry, a Pennsylvania certified non-profit that will bring hope into the lives of others and will remind them that despite all that they are enduring, their story, just like Pops', isn't over yet.

From my support team to yours, may we all find hope In sadness and use the pain we have endured to fuel that fire in our bellies to get to better days.

If you know someone in need of assistance battling cancer, would like updates, or would like to learn how you can help, please feel free to visit the Humbled and Hungry Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/humbledNhungry/

You can also follow us on twitter: @HumbledNhungry