This year for the first time, I decided to ride the PMC with my mom and dad...2020 had other plans. I was inspired to ride by my parents who have both ridden for the past 14 years, especially by my mom who has dedicated her life to treating and finding a cure for pediatric germcell tumors. I first experienced my mom's dedication to preventing and treating pediatric cancer when she undertook a research studying looking at the effect of Vitamin D on cancer development. Part of the study involved getting kids to drink milk replacements and I was the unwilling guinea pig drinking more milk replacements than you can imagine (the best one was obviously oat milk (way before it was cool) the worst was definitely banana soy milk). Little did I know I had just been involved in my first research study! As I grew up, I witnessed my mom's commitment to improving the treatment and lives of kids with cancer. From conducting trials for new therapies, to developing young adult spaces at the hospital, to pioneering fertility preservation protocols to ensure that patients can have children when they grow up, I was never short of amazed by the impact she could have on so many children's lives. Many of these programs were directly funded by funds raised by the PMC.
Recently, I have had the chance to work at the Breast Care Center at UCSF, conducting cancer research (but I don't make anyone drink milk replacements) and working with women with breast cancer. At UCSF I found a community equally passionate about bettering the lives of patients with cancer. Personally, I am inspired by the oncologists at the BCC who have designed trials that use machine learning to assign the best possible therapies to patients to maximize the chance of an early cure. I have seen that when good science is done correctly with the patient in mind, amazing things can happen. Although this year I am raising money specifically to support pediatric cancer research, I am riding with all the incredibly strong patients I met at the BCC in my heart.
At first I considered postponing my PMC until next year to not detract support from the Black Lives Matter movement or to ask unduly of people impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. For that reason, if you would have normally contributed but have already given all you can to support BLM or any other justice movement, I support you wholeheartedly and don't ask for anything more.
However, Cancer did not take this year off and neither will I. Moreover, I believe that the ever-present racially tensions and healthcare disparities in this country are reflected and embedded in inequalities in cancer diagnosis and treatment. COVID will mean that many, many children with cancer will be seen later than they otherwise would have been. They will need more financial support than normal in a year when discretionary spending for hospitals will be cut razor thin. Across America black and brown people are disproportionately affected both by COVID-19 and nearly any other disease. Cancer is no different and those children least likely to receive care will also be those most affected by racial injustice.
This year for the first time, I decided to ride the PMC with my mom and dad...2020 had other plans. I was inspired to ride by my parents who have both ridden for the past 14 years, especially by my mom who has dedicated her life to treating and finding a cure for pediatric germcell tumors. I first experienced my mom's dedication to preventing and treating pediatric cancer when she undertook a research studying looking at the effect of Vitamin D on cancer development. Part of the study involved getting kids to drink milk replacements and I was the unwilling guinea pig drinking more milk replacements than you can imagine (the best one was obviously oat milk (way before it was cool) the worst was definitely banana soy milk). Little did I know I had just been involved in my first research study! As I grew up, I witnessed my mom's commitment to improving the treatment and lives of kids with cancer. From conducting trials for new therapies, to developing young adult spaces at the hospital, to pioneering fertility preservation protocols to ensure that patients can have children when they grow up, I was never short of amazed by the impact she could have on so many children's lives. Many of these programs were directly funded by funds raised by the PMC.
Recently, I have had the chance to work at the Breast Care Center at UCSF, conducting cancer research (but I don't make anyone drink milk replacements) and working with women with breast cancer. At UCSF I found a community equally passionate about bettering the lives of patients with cancer. Personally, I am inspired by the oncologists at the BCC who have designed trials that use machine learning to assign the best possible therapies to patients to maximize the chance of an early cure. I have seen that when good science is done correctly with the patient in mind, amazing things can happen. Although this year I am raising money specifically to support pediatric cancer research, I am riding with all the incredibly strong patients I met at the BCC in my heart.
At first I considered postponing my PMC until next year to not detract support from the Black Lives Matter movement or to ask unduly of people impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. For that reason, if you would have normally contributed but have already given all you can to support BLM or any other justice movement, I support you wholeheartedly and don't ask for anything more.
However, Cancer did not take this year off and neither will I. Moreover, I believe that the ever-present racially tensions and healthcare disparities in this country are reflected and embedded in inequalities in cancer diagnosis and treatment. COVID will mean that many, many children with cancer will be seen later than they otherwise would have been. They will need more financial support than normal in a year when discretionary spending for hospitals will be cut razor thin. Across America black and brown people are disproportionately affected both by COVID-19 and nearly any other disease. Cancer is no different and those children least likely to receive care will also be those most affected by racial injustice.
| 2020 | $1,615.42 | Wellesley to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
