Dear Friends:

I am once again writing to ask you to support my Pan Mass Challenge ride. As most of you know, I have done the PMC for a number of years to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This year, on August 3rd, I will be riding 83 miles, from Wellesley to Bourne (Cape Cod).

Last year I said it would be my last PMC ride. I'm not a natural athlete and for much of the year I don't have time to exercise. So if I'm doing the PMC, when summer rules around, I have to be really rigorous about training which sometimes interferes with what are the best months in Massachusetts. Last year I was off work for a couple of months (keeping my parents company in the Berkshires) so i was able to train really regularly. I felt really good the day of the PMC. Unfortunately, the day of the event it rained. Actually it didn't just rain, it was like a monsoon and there was great deal of flooding on the street and I couldn't see where I was going. So with just 20 miles left to go, my cycling companion and I stopped.

But that ride - tough though it was - reminded me why I do this, despite the challenge of training. Cancer keeps affecting those around me. A few years ago I lost a friend and colleague I admired. Last year, at the age of 23, my daughter's best friend was diagnosed with cancer (fortunately a treatable, curable kind). This year an accomplished women's rights lawyer I know lost her multi-year fight with the disease. This disease is insidious and I want to do what I can to raise the money for further research into treatment and cures.

I just started training - later than i ever have - and I am starting fundraising later than I ever have. But I know i can both finish the ride and reach my fundraising goal with your help.

I hope to raise $4000. Each year I've hit my goal with a few big donations and a lot of small ones.

To contribute, simply go to the links on this page and donate any amount you can.

Your donation is tax deductible and 100% will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If you prefer to write a check, please make it out to the PMC, The Jimmy Fund or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and mail it to me directly at:

Alexa Shabecoff
20 Clark Road
West Newton, MA 02465

If your employer has a matching gift program, ask your Human Resources department for a form, and follow the process for matches. To learn more about the Pan-Mass Challenge, please visit www.pmc.org.

Thank you so much for your support!!

All the best,
Alexa

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