Dear Friends and Family,

I apologize that this writeup keeps getting longer but cancer is everywhere.

This August 3rd and 4th, I will be riding in my 26th Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), which is a 2 day, 192 mile bike ride to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We will gather in Sturbridge on Friday night with friends and teammates old and new for the opening ceremonies. We will rise early on Saturday and set out for the 100+ mile journey to Bourne, supported by familiar faces along the route and countless volunteers. It's not only a physical but also an emotional journey because everyone has their story and we are all united and committed to the cause. Saturday afternoon we will celebrate at Mass Maritime and then get up before dawn to ride the length of the Cape to Provincetown. I have particiapted in many fundraisers, but there is nothing that compares to the PMC.

Now in its 45th year, the PMC has surpassed the $1 BILLION mark for total funds raised for cancer research. 100% of all dollars raised go directly to support Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund.

I began riding in the PMC in 1999 when my older brother Al was diagnosed with cancer. That first PMC was very emotional because days before the ride, doctors had confirmed that the chemo was working and that Al would be ok.

I am happy to say that Al has been cancer free for 24 years and has even ridden in several PMC’s himself. I now ride in memory of my Father Al. Eleven years ago he was diagnosed with treatable but not curable prostate cancer. The cancer had long ago spread to his bones and shortly after he turned 91, he broke his arm due to a lesion. Sadly, after a month in rehab he did not bounce back like he had so many times before. Although 91, he still had a strong heart and clear mind but the cancer won eventually.

This year I will be riding again for The BrainStorms a team created in honor of Declan Vail. While riding with Team Kermit, I had become close with our pedal partner Declan and and his family: little brother Teagan, Mom Stephanie and Dad Jeremy. Declan is an 8 year old with a pediatric glioma, a type of brain tumor. The tumor causes Declan to have seizures (over 1000 in his short life), along with a laundry list of secondary health issues. He's gone through 18 months of chemotherapy, 3 brain surgeries, 7 surgeries in total. He has had over 20 MRIs, and hundreds of doctor’s appointments.

My team, the 'Brainstorms' (what they call seizures), will be raising money for brain tumor research. Currently Dana Farber is doing a research project on the FGFR1 mutation that caused Declan's brain tumor. They actually are using a piece of Declan's tumor that was removed to test out new targeted meds. Unfortunately, Declan's tumor has recentily shown signs of growth. A targeted medication would attack the specific tumor cells, and have minimal side effects. There are many other children with this same mutation. It's time to find these kids a less invasive, tolerable treatment, and a CURE!!!

In Stephanie's words:

Our goal is not only to raise money, but also to promote awareness about childhood cancer. Cancer is NOT just being diagnosed, get chemo, and on your way. Declan will fight this tumor for the rest of his life. He does physical therapy, occupational therapy, behavioral therapy, speech therapy, and gets assistance in school with these as well as math and reading support. He will never know a life without this. The effects are life long, the appointments are never ending, and we know he will be running an ultra marathon for the rest of his life. BUT, NO KID FIGHTS ALONE.

I am consonantly amazed by Declan and the Vails' strength, courage. and resilience. They are truly on a daily roller coaster and he and his family are truly warriors. Help us find a cure so no child or family has to go through this ordeal.

Previously, I had ridden with Matthew’s Duck’s for Matthew Bove, who was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer at 15 months. Matthew underwent six very difficult and aggressive rounds of chemotherapy and had 65 percent of his liver removed. Unfortunately, after a few short months of remission, his cancer returned. Five more rounds of chemotherapy would follow as well as another liver surgery. Matthew is now another Dana Farber success story that you all made possible. He's come a long way from the sick little boy I first met when he was in the middle of chemo and will be playing D1 college Lacrosse next year! Amazing!

I wish we could say the same for all the kids out there. It is truly heart-wrenching to see them and hear their stories. As you ride into the Lakeville water stop on Saturday, the road is lined with pictures of all the pedal partners. I slow down and look at each picture and read their names out loud.

It is with a heavy heart that I will be riding in memory of my longtime friend Elise Amendola who lost her 13 year battle with cancer last spring. I've known Elise since I was right of college, and she loved to joke that we were basketball teammates at Tufts (although we graduated a decade apart). She looked so young, everyone believed her. I would tell her she was my idol and couldn't retire from hoops because she was still playing. Even when she was diagnosed with cancer, despite the many surgeries and treatments, she would always make a comeback and hit her sweet baseline shot again. Elise was a trailblazing photographer for the Associated Press and I was lucky to see her in action and experience first hand some amazing moments. The memories from the World Series wins, the Patriots, Celtics, Bruins and the Boston Marathon are priceless. I would meet photographers from all over the country and when I said I was Elise's friend, their faces would light up. They would proceed to tell stories about how she was the best and had helped them out (or taught them everything they knew in some cases). She was truly one of a kind, and anytime I watch a sporting event I still instinctively look for her on the sidelines because she was always there.

I also ride in memory of Andrew Jones who lost his courageous 13 year battle. After countless surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy, Andrew had entered an experimental trial at Dana Farber in 2006. Although the treatments did not cure his cancer, it had shrunk the tumors enough so he could leave the trial and return to a normal life. Unfortunately the cancer would always return, but he would always battle back. Even when it spread to his brain, Andrew amazingly battled through it for another 2 years. For those of you that have supported the PMC, you helped save Andrew's life in 2006 and gave him many more years with his wife Debbie and children Hayden and Juliet. I only wish we could have done more. His son Hayden is now in college and studying in Japan and his daughter Juliet is thriving at DePaul in the theater/arts program. I know Andrew would have been so proud. Andrew was the 'the Toughest, Bravest Guy in the World' and truly an inspiration. I assure you your donations are making a difference when you see people you know being directly impacted by the research at Dana Farber.

These are some of the reasons I continue to ride. Everyone has their own stories, so if you would like to make a donation, click on donate to my ride. As we like to say at the PMC, each mile pedaled, each dollar earned, brings us closer to a cure.

Thanks for your continued support!!

Celia