Welcome to Rebuild the Shield

Some stories begin with a finish line. This one begins with a decision to pick up the pieces.

With my son Cam and the battle-damaged shield signed by Chris Evans—the symbol that gave this journey its name.

I lost my father. For a while after that, I lost myself too. Later, after losing my mom following her battle with advanced dementia, I carried anger, guilt, depression, and a weight I couldn’t always explain. The things that once brought me energy and purpose began to feel distant.

The day after my mom died, I made a decision: I was going to begin again.

That didn’t mean the grief disappeared. It didn’t mean I suddenly had a perfect plan or knew exactly where I was going. It meant I was willing to take the first step.

That is what Rebuild the Shield means to me.

A damaged shield doesn’t lose its story. Every scratch and scar becomes part of what it survived. Rebuilding isn’t about returning to the person you were before life changed. It’s about deciding who you want to become next.

For me, that rebuilding happens through movement—running, hiking, strength training, and the Road to Boston. It happens through creativity, whether I’m making something, telling a story, or trying a new idea. It happens through adventure, connection, and giving back to Boston Children’s Hospital.

There will be good days, difficult days, changed plans, victories, and setbacks. I’m not here to pretend otherwise. I’m here to share the real journey.

If you’ve ever lost someone, lost your direction, or simply stopped recognizing the person in the mirror, you’re not alone—and you are not beyond rebuilding.

You don’t need to have everything figured out.

You just need to pick up the shield.

Welcome to Rebuild the Shield.