I am riding the Pan-Mass Challenge, a 2-day, 190-mile bike ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA on August 3rd-4th, 2019. I was inspired to ride by the Precision for Kids team. The team has been riding for the past 3 years to support research in my lab. This research brings the latest in technology to young patients with difficult to cure cancers, profiling their tumors to identify the key genetic event driving their individual cancer and then helping the doctor and patient find a treatment perfectly matched to the genetic events we identify. This approach, precision oncology, results in more effective cancer treatments with fewer side effects.

This year the team is riding in honor of Emma. Just prior to her 11th birthday, Emma was diagnosed with a rare and cancerous kidney tumor. The cancer wrapped around her right kidney. The kidney and tumor were removed and after months of chemo and radiation Emma was into remission. But just ten months later, the cancer was back, this time in her lungs. One of the tumors was as big as an 8-Ball. Emma enrolled in one of our studies. A short while later, we identified a gene error in that was causing the cancer. She enrolled in a trial at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of a targeted/precision therapy medication that counteracts the effect of the genetic mutation. This medication, a simple pill taken twice a day, not only shrank the metastatic tumors dramatically in just a few months but also let Emma, now 13, live a normal teenager's life.

To learn more about Precision for Kids and see pictures of Emma visit https://precisionforkids.com/

The team is raising money specifically for the study that is helping Emma and other kids like her who have difficult to treat cancers. I am really proud and excited to be riding as part of this team with my husband David Gordon. Every dollar given goes directly to this study to help kids just like Emma and discover new cures. Admin costs and other fees get paid elsewhere. Your entire contribution supports life-saving research and care.

We look forward to the 190-mile ride, one that symbolizes the long, patience-testing path toward the ultimate goal of curing childhood cancer! We'll be thinking of Emma and everyone we know, both young and old, those living and passed, who have battled this disease. Please do what you can to support our ride!

THANKS! Katie