#BraveLikeAli
Name: Ali Callies
Diagnosis: Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma - Submandibular Salivary Gland
Years of Survivorship: 1 year
Location: Twin Cities
Follow Ali on Instagram.
Published on April 18th, 2025
During the 2018 Magnolia Silobration event, Ali witnessed Chip Gaines run across the stage in a sweatband and shorts to celebrate that he just ran his first marathon. He shared that a Twin Cities runner with a rare cancer diagnosis of Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC) helped him train for the marathon. This moment was when Ali first learned about Gabe Grunewald.
Fast forward to 2022, just a couple months postpartum, Ali noticed a lump under her jaw. Dismissed initially as a breastfeeding side effect, she determinedly advocated for herself and brought it up again to her healthcare professional. Biopsy results shortly after told her that she had an extremely rare submandibular salivary gland cancer, Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma.
It was a whirlwind of information to process. Ali was married to her high school sweetheart and mom of two. Working as a Dental Hygienist for 11 years meant that Ali was familiar with the anatomy of the mouth and radiation effects on the head and neck. Sometimes ignorance is bliss and she wished she knew less about some things with her rare cancer.
“They always tell you don’t research and don’t google things,” she jokingly remarked with us. But through searching online and not finding much lived experience or advice, she happened upon the Brave Like Gabe Foundation and founder Gabe Grunewald who shared bravely about her experiences with ACC. Everything clicked as she remembered hearing about Gabe a few years before at Silobration. It was a serendipitous, chance occurrence that Ali and Gabe would be connected through a cancer that only makes up 1% of head and neck cancers.
Ali is now training to run the William A. Irvin 5K, the kick-off event for Grandma’s Marathon Weekend in June 2025. She is fundraising for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation to raise money for rare cancer research.
“Strength isn’t just about survival. It’s about allowing yourself to feel, to heal, to exist beyond the identity of ‘cancer patient.’”
How has running or staying physically active affected your journey?
“I had ran previously and I've done 5ks previously. Quite honestly, right during treatment, I was probably my unhealthiest. I was gaining weight and I was depressed. I did not work out or run during treatment. I wish I had the energy or motivation to do that, but being at that point gave me the motivation to do it now. Since then, I’ve gotten back into exercising and running and I have lost at least 35 lbs.
After radiation and when my skin healed, it was recommended that I see a physical therapist because my neck muscles can tighten and lock up after treatment. I stretch the area daily and it helps with mobility.”
Ali and her brother Lucas at the 2024 Brave Like Gabe 5K.
Ali and her husband were high school sweethearts and got married at 18.
What advice do you have for people on staying fit throughout their recovery?
“Within a matter of three years, I had two babies & a rare cancer diagnosis. It’s a lot. But if you don’t make the time for yourself to stay physically and mentally healthy, it feels like a lot more. Getting back into running after healing from cancer & radiation has given me so much more energy to be the mom I was before cancer. It’s filling my cup so I can fill theirs.”
What are some of your proudest accomplishments as a cancer survivor?
“Training & joining the Brave Like Gabe Team for the Grandma’s Marathon weekend is going to be a huge accomplishment. It won’t be my first 5k, but it will be my first time running with a team. I hope to be able to join many more races in the future!”
Ali with her two beautiful children.
How has Gabe's story impacted you or changed the way you view life as a cancer survivor?
“In October 2018 I went on a girls trip to Waco, TX. It was our first time to Magnolia and it just so happened to be the 4th annual Silobration. It was a whirlwind of fun, food, and shopping. But the most memorable part was when Chip Gaines ran across the stage in his running gear, sweatband and all! Chip proceeded to tell a story of how he trained for his very first marathon with his friend Gabe - who just happened to be from the same area I was from!
He went on to tell the amazing story of Gabe and how she started the Brave like Gabe foundation, all while fighting this rare cancer herself. She sounded amazing & even though she wasn’t there that evening, she made a lasting impression.
Looking back on that, I am still stunned that I was diagnosed with the same rare cancer that I learned about all those years ago. Even though I wasn’t able to meet her, I feel this special connection to her by how serendipitously this all came about.
I just recently started my own instagram account. I don’t have much on there yet, but if anyone else is researching ACC like I did then hopefully they can see my experience because there’s not a lot out there.”
Ali celebrated finally starting to feel like her true self again with a girls trip in March 2025 with her long distance bestie who supported her during my treatment by helping with the kids.
What does it mean to be #BraveLikeAli?
“Being #BraveLikeAli means advocating for yourself!
Right after I had my son in 2022 I noticed a lump under my jaw. I brought it up to my doctor at my 6 week appointment but it was put off as a lymph node and since I was breast feeding it was considered normal. It was not even palpated or checked at that time. A year later it was still there, and at this point I knew it was not normal. I brought it to the doctor’s attention again. They finally took a look at it, and called in for an ultrasound.
A whole year went by with my tumor being considered normal. If I wouldn’t have been persistent with addressing it, it could have advanced too far. It is so very important to advocate for yourself. If you feel like something is off, do not ignore it. And if you aren’t being heard, get a second opinion.”
WHAt Are you looking forward to in the near future?
“Traveling! Nothing too big on the books in this season of life with little kids, but we usually take a few small trips throughout the year.
I am currently taking a pottery class which has been so much fun! I like that you’re not thinking about anything other than what you’re doing right there. The process of working with the clay is very meditative. It has quickly become my new creative outlet.”
