"He started doing 5ks. He was always active, very energetic, loving and caring," Gallardo said.
In 2018, Matthew was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of 4. He was a fighter, beating the disease in the first round, but his cancer would return. Matthew tragically lost his battle with cancer in May 2023. He was 9-years-old.
Gallardo, 44, is running in the 2025 Aramco Houston Half Marathon.
"Running has been my way to cope. Every mile I run, I do it to honor him," Gallardo said.
Gallardo is also honoring her son through the nonprofit, Miles 4 Matthew. Their goal is to help families focus on their child's battle with cancer by easing the financial burden.