Kekoa Fighting Cancer

Aloha, friends and ohana

In January my heart broke when Kekoa was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), a cancer of the bone marrow and blood. It was hard to believe that my super husband and the unstoppable Sifu (head of his martial arts school) was now facing this terrible killer. Anyone who knows Kekoa knows him as the rare iron-willed warrior that he is, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. He’s also one of the most physically fit and health-conscious people I know, having lived and breathed martial arts his entire life and constantly pouring everything he is into teaching his students and building his dojo. This devastating news was the biggest shock. There was just no way our tough, strong, so full of life Kekoa had cancer… but if anyone can beat it, it’s him.

Since Kekoa’s first Emergency Room visit in December of last year, tackling medical expenses has been a battle in itself. If you feel moved to help cover the costs of medication, doctor appointments, and other ongoing healthcare needs, we would deeply appreciate any help with funding his treatment these next few years. Beyond contributing a donation, it would mean the world to Kekoa if you left a review on Lua O Nā Koa (Den of Warriors) Google and/or Facebook pages to help his school grow, and if you would pray for miraculous healing, renewed strength, and God’s guidance as Kekoa keeps fighting. We are truly grateful for you joining Kekoa’s support system in his health journey toward recovery.

Mahalo nui

Kekoa is a Thrive Collective lifer. He volunteered on our very first mural project in 2007, seven years before Thrive existed, and our third and fourth before joining our team as one of our first employees in 2014. He was the mastermind of our Bring Life Back campaign, designed much of our merch and launched our shop. He has served as a teaching artist, senior project manager, creative director, and trail blazed our expansion to California when he moved back to his hometown in the Bay Area in 2019. He met his future wife Kristen when she volunteered on a Thrive mural in 2017, and recruited her to join the team as a teaching artist later that year. Kristen had previously volunteered on Thrive’s second mural as a student in 2011. They have been part of Thrive’s family since before we became one. Please give generously. Thank you.