Our love story began with two artists, James a dancer and Brian a painter, navigating the NYC dating scene, building careers, and meeting on an online dating website. Our first date was a movie and a polite kiss goodnight. The second date was Brian making Jim home cooked carrot ginger soup because he was sick and bringing it to his apartment. Our third date was a trip to Miami for New Years 2003, however, we couldn’t afford a roundtrip flight, so we rented a car and drove back to NY.

Hiking the Swiss Alps was a favorite, however, after 22 years together it is where we also learned that Jim has periodic vertigo. At 8000 ft on an icy, muddy pass Jim froze in panic, turned white unable to breathe or move. I crawled back to get him, took his hand, told him to look at me and led him to safety. We crossed the danger together, rested, and continued for 3 hours through spectacular views, Swiss cows, wildflowers, glacier waterfalls and ultimately a Beer Garten at 12,000 ft.

Although we are emotionally close to our families, they have never met each other for geographic reasons. We would use the money to fly everyone to our hometown to celebrate our 25th anniversary as a couple. We were the first gay couple to be married in Rochester, NY when marriage equality passed in NYS. We have not been able to celebrate all together as one family. This money would provide the resources to eliminate financial stress to attend a celebration of our love and leave no one out.