Dear Family, Friends, Shipmates, Brothers, and Sisters,

I am on a mission to raise funds for cancer research and treatment by riding the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) on August 5th, 2023. To be up front with you, I have a confession: I should have begun riding the PMC in 2005. That was when my mom was first diagnosed with T-cell non-hodgkins lymphoma. She fought it twice, and a series of strokes, and underwent a complete stem cell transplant. Her will to win, my father's 24/7 care and support, and the care of physicians and availability of experimental treatments are why she is with us today, cancer-free. My wife, Beth, had skin cancer. Since that time, other family members, like my wife's aunt, and many friends and their families have endured the same. Some are in the fight right now.

I'm a life-long bike rider. My dear friend, Mike Cesarini, also a bike rider, Marine veteran, and career police officer, lost his wife Maura to cancer several years ago after a very long battle. He pressed forward and raised his two daughters. He later married Caleena and they now have a son, Gunnar. Mike is an inspiration in the kind of person, father, and husband that he is and is the one whom I follow to ride the PMC.

Several months ago, Mike invited me to join him in volunteering for a charity event held by the Boston Bruins Foundation. It was a Bruins Alumni hockey game and they played the US Navy Warrior for Life Fund team. Here is where I had the honor of meeting Frank Simonetti and some of the Bruins alumni. And as a small world that it is, I also ran into some Navy veterans I knew. What I observed in Frank, the Boston Bruins Foundation, and the Bruins Alumni that day was sheer class and an unhesitating spirit of giving. Not long after that event, Frank invited me to join the BBF PMC cycling team.

The invitation to ride with the BBF is beyond humbling. Therefore, my pledge to you is to not only ride this year's event and raise $4,000, but also to raise funds for the PMC every year moving forward. This is a promise. (I'll also continue to ride for MS on Team Spinal Tap).

Cancer patients and their families need our help. PLease follow this link to donate:

https://www.bikesignup.com/Race/104974/Donate/u9Kg5QI2m8A2duER

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Warm wishes,

Alex

PS. Thank you, Frank and Mike.