This year is different: In the new COVID-19 world, it's clear how science affects our daily activities — we need research to save lives. The pandemic has also brought significant challenges – carrying out research and treating immunocompromised cancer patients has become more challenging and costly.

What's not different? Cancer is not taking the year off. It will steal the lives of more than 600,000 people in the US alone. The PMC isn’t taking 2020 off and neither am I. Prior to COVID I made a personal commitment to ride 156 miles and raise $5,500, and my commitment to the mission of funding cancer research and care is more critical now than ever. The health and safety implications of the global pandemic mean that instead of 7,000 riders and 4,000 volunteers gathering together, the Pan-Mass Challenge will be reimagined with each individual remaining true to the PMC mission by creating their own PMC experience.

I will ride my own reimagined PMC this year, and it will be a family affair. I'm proud to have my daughter Gianna https://profile.pmc.org/GC0167 joining me this year for the first 50 miles. She was inspired to ride PMC after watching and supporting me in my 1st PMC ride last year. We will be riding alongside my mom a 16 year PMC rider and cancer survivor, and my cousin Collin. I will be riding in honor of Janet's stepdad Bob Humphrey, and sending love and support as he fights his battle against this terrible disease. We will be charting our own course on PMC weekend (Aug 1-2) on the backroads of Metro-West, without the typical logistics support of the 4,000 PMC volunteers.

I hope you can help me reach this important goal. I appreciate that the economic fallout has impacted everyone differently. If you can give, please do so. If you cannot this year, I understand. And if you have the capacity to give a little more than you might normally, your generosity will make a tremendous difference this year.

Thank you, in advance, for your kind and generous support!

Mike