Connect How did your love story begin?

Lelis and I first met at a sporting goods store. I went in for a sauna suit, and she was working the register. I got flustered, made a bad joke, and gave her my name and number for the rewards card. Before leaving, I told her she was beautiful and nearly walked into the door. Two weeks later, she messaged me on Facebook after taking my info from the card. A quick errand became a very charming breach of customer privacy and the beginning of our story.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Early in our relationship, Lelis and I got snowed in during a historic Charlotte snowstorm. She was at my place when it started, and for three days everything shut down. We played in the snow, made igloos, explored a quiet lake nearby, and sat on the dock surrounded by silence. Since Lelis is from Peru, seeing snow like that was rare and special for her. Watching her experience it made me fall in love with her adventurous spirit even more.

What would you do with $20,000?

We would use some of the money to help my 17-year-old cousin, Nayeli, who lives in a remote town in Peru. She was born with disabilities and is now losing sight in both eyes, but her parents cannot afford to take her to a doctor in Lima. We would help cover her travel, medical appointments, and treatment. We would also pay down some debt, take a small vacation, and continue our family tradition of bringing Christmas gifts, shoes, and toys to children in my hometown in Peru.