This will be my 11th year as a PMC rider. I almost hung up the cycling cleats last year, but after the overwhelming support and continued drive to want to be a part of a greater cause, I was rejuvenated to continue. How can I NOT continue to RIDE for this cause if I'm still physically able?

One impetus for me to resume was joining Team Perry (http://profile.pmc.org/TT0046) this year. It gave me a sense of helping further the cause within the cause- I will be restricting my fundraising this year for the Perry S Levy Fund for Gastrointestinal Cancer.

In June of 1999, only a year and a half into their marriage, Melissa and Perry Levy returned to their Natick, MA home after an amazing trip to Japan … Perry started feeling ill. They assumed he had picked up a stomach bug or virus during their travels but shortly thereafter, over July 4th weekend, Perry was diagnosed with cancer of the small bowel and 3 ½ months later he was gone.

At age 32, Perry was the picture of health – having completed 4 marathons and countless biathlons and triathlons, none of it made sense. Perry had an incredible spirit of competition and the motivation necessary to succeed in all endeavors (at work and at play). He embraced each day of his life with passion and enthusiasm and the journey that Melissa, her family and the Levy family have traveled since Perry’s death is an incredible tribute to his memory.

Shortly after Perry's death, Melissa established the Perry S. Levy Fund for Gastrointestinal Cancer Research at Dana Farber. Based on the money this team has raised over the past 18 years, they now carry the proud honor of appointing a Fellow at the Gastrointestinal Cancer Center (GCC) at Dana Farber. The team's fundraising supports the fellow's annual salary as well as research efforts at Dana Farber. The fellow specifically focuses research on cancer of the gastrointestinal tract. These cancers will represent almost 1/4 of all new cancer diagnosis this year and will be responsible for 1/3 of the cancer deaths this year. Dana Farber is making wonderful advances in the treatment of these cancers, hopefully as a result in part of what Team Perry has been able to contribute to their efforts.

Please CONTRIBUTE in any way possible to this worthy cause!