Team Captain Sunshine is back for year 2! This year we are welcoming new teammates and riding for more folks in our lives who have unfortunately been impacted by cancer.

Team Captain Sunshine was created in my dad's memory. My dad was my best friend. When he was diagnosed on March 6, 2023 with stage IV stomach cancer my first thought, like many others, was that I couldn't wait for him to kick cancer's ass. Thanks to the care of his team at Dana Farber, he did just that for 6 incredible months. My dad took his chemo pump to work, we went to the NCAA basketball tournament in Albany, we traveled to DC. Most importantly, though, day in and day out I was able to spend quality time with him for that stretch. Not many people (or their families) with a similar diagnosis can say the same. For that, there is no amount of money that I could raise to appropriately thank Dana Farber for their incredible care that allowed my dad to continue to live his life to the fullest. Unfortunately, due to an infection in his gallbladder complicated by his cancer, he was no longer strong enough for chemotherapy and continue the fight. My dad passed on November 20, 2023.

To know my dad was to both love him and be loved by him. My dad treated everyone like the most important person in the room regardless of who they were. He led with love and hope in his mission to leave the world in a better place than he found it for me and everyone to come.

In the face of challenges, my dad would say “Don’t agonize, organize.” While this most often was used in the context of political organizing, that’s how he thought about everything. He firmly believed in the power of community. While morbid, the community that I have found from folks who have had a parent or loved one endure a cancer battle has helped in more ways than I can describe.

The combination of my dad’s passion for community organizing and the gratitude that I feel towards Dana Farber inspired me to create our PMC team. Team Captain Sunshine is based on a nickname given to my dad because of his unwavering optimism. Our goal is to raise $100,000 and ride 196 miles from Sturbridge to Provincetown in early August. Our team is comprised of folks close to my dad and others who are riding for their loved ones and we could use your help.

Thank you in advance for your support.