In June 2012, my then 11-year-old twin brother Nate was diagnosed with metastatic sarcoma. He spent the next several years undergoing intense rounds of chemotherapy, radiology, grueling surgeries, and countless setbacks while also attempting to live as normal a life as he could. Nate loved spending time at the beach, going to school when he felt up to it, tending to his bonsai and palm tree, caring for our dog Toby, and most importantly spending time with my family, cousins, and friends. He was full of life and spirit, and celebrated every holiday like it was his last.

After Nate's death in 2015, my parents established the Nate Cavallo Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and committed to raising vital funds to support The Crompton Lab at Dana Farber. We also want to improve the support and care families receive while their child is in treatment. Nate's Fund helped to establish a communications training curriculum for pediatric oncologists, called the Nate Cavallo Longitudinal Communication Curriculum in 2018. This curriculum continues to train new pediatric fellows at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. This past year, Nate's Fund provided essential funding for a new parent mentor program called PairWISE - wisdom, insight, support, exchange that matches parents of newly diagnosed children with parents whose children who have been in treatment for some time.

Children like Nate with metastatic disease that has reoccurred face difficult odds - less than 10% chance of survival for 5 years and no chance for a cure. We want to improve those statistics. Experts do not know how to prevent childhood cancers and they are often discovered late. Treatment side effects are often grueling at best, and leave lasting damage on the body.

This year will be my 9th PMC riding 162 miles from Wellesley to Provincetown. Throughout the weekend, I am filled with gratitude as I remember how Nate courageously and optimistically fought a disease that aggressively attacked his entire body. Donations make a direct, real difference. Please consider donating to my ride. Thank you!