We all have someone we love or know of someone that is loved that has fought or is fighting cancer. Here we are in 2018 and it seems that cancer continues to affect us all. Why? As a scientist, I know there will come a time when we WILL beat this. But it takes focus, committment, research and $$!
About 9 months ago, I convinced Bart to participate in the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) so that we could stand as a family and do something to help eradicate the disease that has impacted too many of our loved ones – Gino, Carl, Diane, Gloria, Stephanie - to name only a few.
The PMC is a 193-mile bike ride through Massachusetts and across Cape Cod, August 4 – 5, 2018 starting in Sturbridge and ending in Provincetown. Bart joined Team Velominati and has been training for this ride throughout the spring and summer. But as I said, this is a family effort - Bart will be the legs, I will be the voice and Danika and I will create healing art. Our goal is to raise $5000 for Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s (DFCI) research. Why you might ask? Well, that’s a good and important question and we have a REALLY good reason.
In March of 2018, Diane, my best friend, sister from another mother, and forever soul mate was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. This ride and all the work we do to raise the $5000 for ovarian cancer research is dedicated to her. When someone you love is diagnosed with cancer you feel helpless – trust me, I know. That’s how I felt when I got Diane’s news. Well, I’m not helpless. I can’t cure her cancer, but I can do something to make sure that progress is being made to cure cancer. I can make sure that institutes such as DFCI are supported so that they can find cures and treatments that can cure Diane.
Every single dollar and cent we raise for the PMC goes to DFCI – 100%! There aren’t many cancer fund raisers that can boast that. In fact, I think there are none!
As I said, this is a family effort. Bart is riding, I am the voice, and Danika and I are creating healing art. Healing art, you say? Yes! For every $100 donation, you will receive a friendship rock with a hand-painted Mandala and for every $200 donation, you will receive hand-painted Mandala canvas shoes. A mandala is a circular, spiritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism representing the universe and is often used to assist with healing. Mandalas denote wholeness, continuity, unity and harmony and this is what we want to spread out into our universe.
Please consider donating and supporting us as we dedicate this ride to Diane and help fight cancer – because no one we love fights the fight alone!
