It all started when we were dancing in the dark

Burn to Run started during the middle of the COVID-19, I (Liesa, owner and founder) wanted to find a way to spend weekends with my husband and co-owner, Tom. Our shared love of Springsteen inspired the name, taken from one of his biggest hits. I began making candles and sharing them with friends and family to test new scents and to find ways to pass the time.

But as life slowly started opening up, Burn to Run was put on the shelf.

In 2025, everything changed when we lost our dear friend Gretchen, who fought bravely for six years against Li-Fraumeni Syndrome. We said goodbye to her on May 9, 2025 at 4:44am, a moment marked by angel numbers that never felt out of coincidence. Gretchen was incredible in every way - graceful, smart, kind, and silly. And though she left us on earth too soon, she continues to show up in every day in her own little ways.

After she passed, I had a dream about Gretchen. I couldn’t see her face, and I could only hear her voice and smell her. She kept telling me to wake up and pay attention. I woke up, it was 2:02 in the morning, and I found a lump in my breast. My doctor initially said it was likely nothing to worry about. Insurance won’t cover the mammogram and she’ll put the order in but don’t worry. So, I let it go for a month. Then I had another dream where she was laughing in the backseat of my car, hair blowing in the wind. I tried to touch her and woke up again. I knew she was back for a reason. On August 9, my doctor called and confirmed it was breast cancer.

Burn to Run exists for several reasons: to fight the boredom and isolation of tough times, to help cover medical expenses (because, as Springsteen sings about this Land of Hope & Dreams, it could really use universal healthcare up in here), and most importantly, to honor the friends and loved ones who inspire us every day. These candles are poured with love, and many of their scents carry us back to special points in time spent with some of the most special people. This new project has given Tom and I an opportunity to pour (literally) time and effort into something we love, instead of dwell on something that has stolen so much from us.

If you’re this far, thank you for supporting Burn to Run. We hope these candles fill your home with warmth and love (and a little Springsteen magic).

xox, L