Liver Life Challenge Ambassador
Liver Life Challenge Ambassadors play a critical role in ensuring the success of American Liver Foundation’s (ALF) official endurance program, where dedicated athletes from across the country use their passion and commitment to go the extra mile for the liver community. Liver Life Challenge Ambassadors serve as key volunteers for the endurance program and bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion to the table. Their leadership and dedication help the program grow and ensure that ALF can continue improving lives, increasing awareness, and advancing life-saving treatments and cures.
If you are interested in becoming an ambassador, please email Sarah Miller at smiller@liverfoundation.org.
Meet our Liver Life Challenge Ambassadors!
Liver Life Challenge Global Ambassador: Jim Miller
More than 23 years ago, Jim ran his first-ever marathon with the American Liver Foundation in Boston in memory of his father. Now at marathon #257, by April 2025 he plans to complete his 300th marathon and has a goal of raising $100,000.
Jim is passionate about the Liver Life Challenge endurance program and, as an ALF Liver Life Challenge Global Ambassador, is committed to raising awareness and critical funds for ALF.
Jim regularly holds online auctions of great value Gift Certificates, is working with ATO fraternity at the University of New Hampshire on a signature running event in October, and is planning a fundraising event in Maine with ALF. Jim is also running Epic Eight 100 miler ultra marathons this year and is soliciting new requests for sponsors and pledges for each race.
With a special interest in preventing and educating his community about non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Jim promotes local and international opportunities to run for Team ALF and will participate in the 2024 Berlin Marathon.
Liver Life Challenge Ambassador: Dr. T. Clark Gamblin
Clark Gamblin, MD, MS, MBA is an internationally known hepatobiliary surgeon with a clinical and research interest focused on cancers of the liver and bile ducts. Born and raised in Mississippi, Dr. Gamblin received his medical degree from the University of Mississippi. He trained in surgical oncology at the University of Pittsburgh, where he also obtained a master’s degree in clinical research. Dr. Gamblin came to the Medical College of Wisconsin in 2010 to lead the Division of Surgical Oncology. He is also a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management where he earned his MBA. He prides himself on clinical excellence and a team approach to research, education and clinical program building.
Serving previously as a local and national board member, Dr. Gamblin has a long history of volunteering for ALF and has generously donated to our mission, raising funds through his passion for running. He recently earned one of the most prestigious and sought-after marathon medals, the Six Star Medal, for completing the World Marathon Majors (Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York City).
Liver Life Challenge Ambassador: Sarah Moquin
Sarah found American Liver Foundation (ALF) in 2010 after her father was diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and hasn’t looked back since. Tackling the 2011 Boston Marathon was just the beginning for Sarah. She went on to run and raise critical funds for ALF through eight more Boston Marathons. and served as Chair of Team ALF in 2017 and 2018. Sarah has made lifelong friends along the way and is known for her welcoming spirit and encouragement and assistance with team members, especially new ones!
In 2021, Sarah ran the New York City marathon with ALF and was part of the very first international Liver Life Challenge team at the Berlin Marathon in 2024. To date, she has raised more than $50,000 for ALF. Sarah is currently working on obtaining her Six Star Medal for the World Marathon Majors; with Boston, Chicago, New York City, and Berlin under her belt, she is looking forward to Tokyo and London in 2025.
ALF’s Liver Live Challenge Team ALF has become an extended family for Sarah, which was only strengthened after losing her father to PSC in 2020. Continuing to honor his memory and connect with liver patients and families brings joy to her life, and she is excited to continue to carry on the ALF mission.
Liver Life Challenge Ambassador: Robin Turner
Fitness became a part of Robin’s life during a particularly challenging time and has become a vital support for her ever since. Not only does fitness allow her to improve and maintain her own health, but also helps foster connections with others, which she loves to leverage for community service.
Robin became involved with American Liver Foundation (ALF) after she was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease at 30 years-old and primary biliary cholangitis at 40. She is now an avid ALF endurance program athlete, an RRCA certified running coach, an Achilles volunteer, and a mentor. Robin also loves sharing her running experience with her dog, Argos.
Robin is determined not to let her conditions define her. Passionate about sharing her health and wellness experiences, Robin is excited to complete her fourth World Major Marathon in Tokyo (March of 2025), marking her ninth marathon overall. She has already run two major marathons with ALF and is grateful for the connections she has made with so many wonderful people touched by liver disease. Her favorite marathons to date were the two she ran for Team ALF: Chicago in 2022 and Berlin in 2024.
Liver Life Challenge Ambassador: Jim O'Connell
In 2010, Jim O’Connell, long-time American Liver Foundation (ALF) leadership volunteer and Liver Life Challenge® participant, lost his dad to liver cancer. Looking for a way to honor his father’s legacy of kindness and positivity, Jim put together a team for ALF’s 2010 Liver Life Walk®, Boston. After experiencing the support and comradery of the Walk, Jim felt driven to do more, so he registered to run on the Liver Life Challenge Team ALF at the 116th Boston Marathon®. Jim has since run the Boston Marathon ten times with Team ALF, serving as Runner’s Council Team Chair five times and raising more than $110,000 for ALF. Jim also served as vice chair of ALF’s New England board of directors until ALF’s national restructuring in 2020.
Jim credits ALF, and the hundreds of amazing people he has met through the Liver Life Challenge program, with changing his life for the better. Many of his teammates have become exceptionally close friends who continue to support ALF together in a variety of ways. Jim continues his deep commitment to the liver community and keeping his father’s memory alive by serving as a Liver Life Challenge Ambassador. Continuously seeking new ways to volunteer and support ALF locally, we are grateful to Jim and his steadfast leadership over the years.
Liver Life Challenge Ambassador: Ceara Souza
Ceara found American Liver Foundation (ALF) in 2019 when she wanted to run her first marathon for an important cause. She lost her grandfather to liver cancer from years of living with undiagnosed hemochromatosis, a common genetic disorder in which the body absorbs and stores too much iron, and never had the opportunity to know him. Running became Ceara’s way of honoring him, and she quickly adopted her fellow teammates “whys.” Liver Life Challenge® Team ALF changed Ceara’s life in profound ways – she met her best friends running the 2019 Boston Marathon with Team ALF and had the special opportunity to run for her dear friend’s father, who she met through the Patient Runner Connection – a unique ALF program that matches runners on the team with a local liver patient. Ceara keeps coming back to ALF for the epic friendships and the positive effect each stride has made towards a world without liver disease.