Our story began in 2011 when my basketball coach introduced us. We fell hard and fast, but long distance and college made it hard to hold on. Life took us in different directions, but the love never really left. Then in 2021, I got a random text from an unknown number—it was Tamsen. I replied without hesitation, and just like that, everything came rushing back. Since that day, we’ve picked up right where we left off—and we haven’t spent a day apart since and are now engaged!

One of our favorite memories is training from Milan to Naples, taking in Italy one stop at a time. We met incredible people, indulged in pasta, wine, and gelato, and soaked up every bit of culture we could. In just twelve days, we saw ancient ruins, coastal towns, bustling cities, and quiet villages—laughing, exploring, and falling even more in love with each other (and Italian carbs) every step of the way. It was pure magic from start to finish.

Winning $20,000 would help us begin our forever on the right foot. It would ease the financial stress of planning our wedding and give us a head start on saving for a home—a place to build our life and create new memories. As we take this next step together, this support would mean the world and allow us to focus more on the joy of starting our new chapter than the weight of the cost.