My brother, Chris, and I used to be best friends. 

When we were kids, we were thick as theives. I was always coming up with ideas that would get us in trouble, and he was always trying to talk me out of them. With only a four year age difference, I looked up to my big brother but also saw him as an equal. He always made time for me and showed his annoying little sister how to play his favorite video games. 

Eventually we grew up and life sent us in different directions. He married his high school sweetheart, Kelleigh, and they had baby Ryleigh, with Aidan on the way. I joined the military and was deployed overseas. Our relationship really suffered, not from lack of trying on his part. 

One day Chris took a nap and never woke up. He had a heart attack in his sleep. He was 31 years old. In his case, this wasn't something that could have been caught ahead of time. Everything was done after the fact to try and keep him alive, but if I know one thing, its that Chris wouldn't want any other family to have to go through what we have. 

So this year, and every year, we walk for Chris. For his memory and for his life which was full of light no matter how short it was. He was kind, he was loving, he was my brother, and he was my best friend.