Travis Snyder, Founder of The Color Run, Dead at 45: 'He Was a Warrior and His Life Made a Difference'

Snyder, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2015, teamed up with actor Jason Momoa to encourage people to join the Be the Match bone marrow donor registry

Travis Snyder, founder of The Color Run, has died. He was 45.

PEOPLE confirmed the entrepreneur's death on Sunday after a statement went live on his Instagram page detailing how he would like to be remembered. In his posthumous message, Snyder reflected on his 2015 acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis.

"Well, a long-term illness at least gives time to consider what I would want included in this dang thing. Rather than it be empty or have some statements about how I died, a few life details, and some accolades. I'd rather have something written from my heart," he wrote, noting that he wanted people to remember him as a "warrior."

Related: Jason Momoa Calls for Donors to the 'Be The Match Registry' Inspired by Friend's Cancer

"Please don't say I 'lost my fight with cancer,' I lived and battled and was blessed with eight years of life after a devastating diagnosis. At one of my more difficult moments, I told my friend I was sorry they had to see me. Her reply was quick and direct, 'All I've ever seen when I look at you is a warrior.' That is how I'd like to be remembered," he continued.

Synder wrote that while "life was never easy" for him, so many "beautiful moments" were a result of his three sons, [Hank, Miles and Luke], and his wife, Heidi.

"The only thing that I have ever come to is that we suffer to soften us, to care more, love more, and try to lift each other up. The bonds of relationships are the only things that will endure beyond this life," he wrote.

Snyder expressed that he was "fortunate" to have fulfilled his dreams and hoped to have generated "some goodness along the way." He concluded his message by asking his followers to share memories of their time together so his sons could "know all of me."

Related: Jason Momoa Continues to Plead with Fans to Become Donors to 'Be the Match Registry' : 'Be a Hero'

PEOPLE spoke to Snyder last year when he and Aquaman star Jason Momoa teamed up to encourage people to join the Be the Match Registry for bone marrow donors.

"We met through happenstance and mutual friends after my first cancer battle in 2015," Snyder recalled of his first meeting with the actor. "I think in the aftermath of treatment I was very focused on living every day with purpose and my heart was open and Jason wasn't quite as busy then and he lives with such a big giving heart and aloha, we just connected instantly."

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Momoa, 44, told PEOPLE he had an interest in raising awareness about the organization to help Snyder, whom he called his "buddy."

"I didn't know much about all different types of cancer and I haven't had someone pass in my family from it, and Travis is really my first experience," he said at the time. "And something like this, absolutely, I can donate my time and platform. I just want to be able to help… It's just tearing me up that I can't save my buddy."

In a statement sent to PEOPLE, Be the Match remembered Snyder as a "passionate advocate" for the donor registry.

"He was selfless in his efforts. He recognized that thousands of individuals each year are searching for potential blood stem cell donors. He wanted to spread the word far and wide that we each hold a potential cure to blood cancer inside of us," the statement said.

"He inspired thousands of people to join the Be the Match registry, and we know his efforts will help more patients in the future get a second chance at life. He was a warrior, and his life made a difference.”

In honor of Snyder, Be the Match is inviting people to join the registry or make a monetary donation via a page dedicated to him on its website.

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