I'm proud to share that this will be my first time participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge - a bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country - to bring us Closer by the Mile to a cure for cancer.

I ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge because cancer is a battle that touches every one of us. We all know someone—family, friends, loved ones—who have faced it with unimaginable strength or who we’ve lost too soon. I’m new to cycling, and this ride will be a massive challenge for me physically and mentally. But it’s nothing compared to the fight that so many are forced to face without choice. That kind of battle is one no one signs up for—and yet, they face it with courage every day.

God has given me the strength, health, and opportunity to ride, and I believe we are called to use our gifts to serve a greater purpose. I ride to honor the fighters, remember the fallen, and support the survivors. I ride to carry a small piece of their burden, to bring hope, and to be part of the movement to end this terrible disease. As Galatians 6:2 reminds us, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” This is my small way of carrying theirs.

Since its founding in 1980, PMC riders like me have raised more than $1 billion for lifesaving cancer research, treatment and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the country's top cancer care hospitals. My PMC is making a difference in the lives of patients at Dana-Farber and around the world. The funds I raise support the innovative work of doctors, nurses, and scientists in their search for cures for cancers and related diseases. 100 percent of every dollar I raise goes directly to Dana-Farber, meaning that your donation has a real impact!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Please consider donating to help me reach my fundraising goal—and more importantly, to help bring hope to those in the fight of their lives. Every mile I ride and every dollar you give brings us one step closer to a world without cancer. Together, we can make a difference!