I am very excited to announce that I will be participating in this year’s Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) for the second time to continue the fight against cancer. I will be riding 186 miles alongside my dad on August 5th and 6th in support of my 13 year old sister, Mackenzie Leigh Keogh, and to help raise money for Dana Farber/Jimmy Fund. Mackenzie’s journey began on July 9th, 2018 when she was diagnosed with a large, aggresive brain tumor that could not be removed surgically. With continual prayer and the wonderful work Jimmy Fund has done for Mackenzie, she is still pushing almost five years later.
Over this long journey, we have seen Mackenzie go from almost being unable to walk to become a dancing, horse-back riding, active girl. The tumor is present and has thankfully been stable for the past few years all because of the radiologists, doctors, and nurses who have helped her walk through this disease. It has been an answer to prayer to see Mackenzie still thriving in the midst of this terrible storm. Of course, this has become a very personal topic but I also know that there are millions in this world who have suffered from this terrible disease and millions of others who have been affected by it.
The PMC is a truly incredible organization that raises funds for cancer research for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Every dollar that is raised goes straight to research being done is order to eliminate cancer. Since 1980, the PMC has successfully raised $900 million, all of which has been sent directly to Dana Farber. Furthermore, the PMC's donations amount to 60% of the the total annual revenue for Dana Farber and Jimmy Fund. In regard to Team Mackenzie, we have successfully raised $77,080.49 since 2019 and we intend to break $100,000.00 this upcoming summer all of which goes to Dana Farber and Jimmy Fund.
In writing this, I am asking that you support this incredible cause and help donate in order to continue the fight against cancer and further the research into this disease. However, I also ask for your prayers, both for this upcoming race but for Mackenzie. Though money can do amazing things here on this Earth, the Lord can do far much more and that is where complete dependence should be found. I am so excited to see what God has in store for Mackenzie and what he will do through the PMC this upcoming year. Let's knock out cancer together!
