Estefan Linares, a Notre Dame junior studying Business Tech and Latino Studies, had just returned to campus for his sophomore year in fall 2018 when he received a phone call nobody wants to receive: his father, Marcos, always the epitome of good health and vibrant living, had cancer.

Estefan didn't have much time to grapple with the sudden and shocking news. His father was diagnosed with stage four gallbladder cancer that had metastasized. Marcos Linares was dying. Diagnosed on September 11, 2018... he was gone just over a month later.

Following his father’s death, Estefan wanted to take action so other families wouldn’t feel as helpless as he did against the disease. When he heard about the Harper Cancer Fitness Challenge —an annual event run by the Harper Cancer Research Institute at Notre Dame in which every 1 mile or 10 minutes of fitness activity logged by participants raise $1 for cancer research through a match by a generous benefactor—Estefan jumped at the opportunity to create a team in honor of his father.

“I wanted to spread what I knew about cancer and the disease and realized this challenge was going on. So I said, ‘You know, I’m going to try to give it all I have and get people to donate.’ So I told people my story, and so many donated. We came in first place, Team Marcos.”

Estefan will participate again in the Harper Cancer Fitness Challenge this fall. For just $10, you can join the fight against cancer when you register for the challenge, and invite friends and family to join you in the fight. 

We need you and your team! Register or donate today for the Harper Cancer Fitness Challenge and make a difference through life-saving cancer research. 

Go Irish! Beat Cancer!