'I believe that this overwhelming love for my city and community was shaped out of the deep heartache that my family experienced during the life and death of my brother as well as my dad’s cancer battle. I’ve always loved Western New York, but never as much as I do now. And I’ve never witnessed people come together the way they did when my father battled cancer in 2013 and 2014. These aren’t the type of people who just rally with you during the good times. Rather, they see your need when you’re down for the count, and they pick you up off the ground and hold you up when you can no longer stand on your own.'