Dear Friends,

This August will mark my tenth year participating in the Pan Mass Challenge! For the past nine years I have counted upon your generosity to raise a total to date of $198,000 in support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Last year we raised $22,000 together, plus an additional $7,500 matched by EMCOR as part of our annual golf outing!

My team is dedicating our ride to a very special person. Meet Carson, our team’s Pedal Partner, pictured to the left and below on her dad’s shoulders. We met Carson and her parents at a PMC event in May. She’s six months into a three-year treatment program at Dana-Farber; her smile lights up a room and melts your heart. Her jacket sums up why we ride – “Leukemia’s Tough but I’m Tougher”.

The traditional PMC route is 192 miles over two days, starting in Sturbridge MA and ending in Provincetown. This year marks the last year for the iconic Sturbridge start; the PMC will be shifting to a new start location next year. This, coupled with it being my tenth ride, plus the fact that I haven’t done anything “big and stupid” in a while, prompted a few of us to step up our game a bit: God willing, we’re going to make it a true Pan Mass ride, and start a day earlier at the NY border. We’ll ride almost 300 miles in three days!

I hope I can count on your support again this year. Donations are tax deductible and may be made online at pmc.org/DB0398. (If you prefer to write a check, please make it out to “The PMC” and mail it to me.) Donations are accepted until October 1st, though I have set a personal goal to reach my fundraising target by the ride date. If your employer has a matching gift program, get the form from HR and follow the process for matches. 100% of your donation will go to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. Every Single Penny. You can read more at www.pmc.org.

As I wrap up my training, whether you are able to donate or not, I’d really like to hear from you. Please email me and tell me who comes to mind as you read through this letter. Whether they are fighting cancer now or have passed on, reflecting on your story as I tally up the miles will help keep me focused on why I’m participating in this event.

Any contribution you can make toward my ride would be most gratefully appreciated. The PMC is a way for me to honor all of those who have fought or are currently fighting cancer – whether a patient, healthcare provider, or researcher.

Thanks again,

Dave