What a journey it has been! In 2002, when I took up cycling and registered for my first Pan-Mass Challenge, I never would have guessed that both would be so important to me 23 years later. Yet, here I am -- the PMC is an annual commitment and always a milestone event in celebrating my own experience as a patient at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. My passion for cycling, which started with that first PMC, has been critical to my recovery from cancer surgery and other major surgeries. It has also enabled me to participate and help lead the Israel Ride and other rides that support causes that are imporant to me. It all started with one decision -- to ride the 2002 Pan-Mass Challenge.
I'm working hard to train, and excited about the ride. Mostly, I'm excited to continue to generate support for children's cancer care and research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). My treatment there, in 2012, gave me a future. I try to embrace and celebrate that gift every day.
DFCI is changing the course of cancer treatment. In the thirteen years since my treatment ended, new therapies have moved from the labs to the mainstream. I was fortunate to be part of a successful clinical trial at DFCI. While I'm sure the details were more complex, the basic goal of the trial was to test a better way to limit the toxicity of a cocktail of chemicals that might otherwise be an effective treatment. It worked, and became an accepted treatment for patients that were considered 'otherwise healthy and strong enough' to tolerate the therapy. Today, 13 years later, Dana Farber it conducting clinical trials for advanced immunotherapies that may be even more effective and less toxic. Dana Farber's innovations save lives. Some of the most innovative research is made possible by the PMC, which has raised over one billion dollars since it was founded and aims to raise over $75 million in 2025. I’m fortunate to be here and to ride. I hope that you will join me in supporting this great cause.
What a journey it has been! In 2002, when I took up cycling and registered for my first Pan-Mass Challenge, I never would have guessed that both would be so important to me 23 years later. Yet, here I am -- the PMC is an annual commitment and always a milestone event in celebrating my own experience as a patient at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. My passion for cycling, which started with that first PMC, has been critical to my recovery from cancer surgery and other major surgeries. It has also enabled me to participate and help lead the Israel Ride and other rides that support causes that are imporant to me. It all started with one decision -- to ride the 2002 Pan-Mass Challenge.
I'm working hard to train, and excited about the ride. Mostly, I'm excited to continue to generate support for children's cancer care and research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). My treatment there, in 2012, gave me a future. I try to embrace and celebrate that gift every day.
DFCI is changing the course of cancer treatment. In the thirteen years since my treatment ended, new therapies have moved from the labs to the mainstream. I was fortunate to be part of a successful clinical trial at DFCI. While I'm sure the details were more complex, the basic goal of the trial was to test a better way to limit the toxicity of a cocktail of chemicals that might otherwise be an effective treatment. It worked, and became an accepted treatment for patients that were considered 'otherwise healthy and strong enough' to tolerate the therapy. Today, 13 years later, Dana Farber it conducting clinical trials for advanced immunotherapies that may be even more effective and less toxic. Dana Farber's innovations save lives. Some of the most innovative research is made possible by the PMC, which has raised over one billion dollars since it was founded and aims to raise over $75 million in 2025. I’m fortunate to be here and to ride. I hope that you will join me in supporting this great cause.
I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list.
