Dear Friends and Family,

All of us connected to the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) https://www.pmc.org/ know that whether we are donating, riding, and/or volunteering, it remains one of the very positive things in our lives.

I will be riding my 44th consecutive PMC in August and my 2nd consecutive PMC Unpaved in October because I know that we are making a difference.

Last year, you were part of over 270,000 supporters contributing to the PMC’s gift of $75 million making up 66% of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue and donating over $1 Billion to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) since 1980.

The stakes are much higher this year. Not wanting to politicize this, but the current administration has made unimaginable cuts in federal grants provided through the National Institutes of Health, and medical research grants to universities like Harvard. Potential cures for cancer and other diseases are being materially impacted by this across the country, and certainly at DFCI. I know this first hand. Discussing these recent decisions with my oncologist, Dr. Megan Insco, recent grant submissions to support her research in finding cures for melanoma cancer will probably be put on hold or denied, like so many others. Years, sometimes decades, of research may be shelved or shuttered permanently because of these short-sighted decisions.

All this makes your generosity more important than ever in order to close this gap of lost federal funding.

I continue to live with cancer; details that don’t need to be part of this letter. I cannot be more thankful for all the support from family and friends and the incredible ongoing care I receive at Dana Farber. It continues to be a challenging journey. All of these treatments come with side effects which impact one’s quality of life. Like so many people battling cancer, we sometimes question whether potential cures’ side effects are worse than the actual disease. Those thoughts eventually dissipate for me, replacing them with the hope that every day I am gifted by Dr. Insco and the entire DFCI Team, is another day some new groundbreaking research may be approved to help me and so many others.

This year, I dedicate my rides to:

my cousin, Jim, who lost his battle with appendiceal cancer in January;

my long-time Huckmate, Jon, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma this year and has soldiered through surgery, radiation therapy, and continues with chemo treatments. I plan to ride with him throughout the PMC weekend and stand proudly with him at the ‘Living Proof’ ceremony in Bourne;

Kim, the toughest warrior I know. Her leukemia returned (first battle started in 2017) and after countless rounds of intense chemotherapy, she recently received another bone marrow transplant a few weeks ago. Few people are stronger than Kim as she navigates her way to recovery, again. She truly inspires everyone who knows her.

Too many of us have been impacted by cancer. Each year, names are added to my seat pack tag as I continue to ride for those close to you. Almost three dozen ‘Living Proof’ remind us that we can beat cancer or worse case, continue to live with it. Also on this tag are almost three dozen of those who will always be with us, including my Mom, who died in 1981 from thyroid cancer and is the reason I have been riding the PMC every year since 1982.

The PMC’s 2025 fundraising goal is $76 million. My personal goal for the PMC weekend in August is $44,000 and $4,500 for the PMC Unpaved in October. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to DFCI and I will contribute at least half of these amounts to help reach the goals. As in recent years, a portion of my total fundraising will be designated to Dr.Insco’s melanoma research.

Once again, Team Huckleberry and I will begin our extended weekend at the NY/MA border riding the extra 100-mile Huck ride (August 1) to the traditional Sturbridge start, then on to Bourne on Saturday (August 2) and finishing at the Provincetown Inn on Sunday (August 3). In all, it's almost 300 miles of cycling across Massachusetts over three days. With all the registered cyclists and volunteers, and thousands of people cheering us on along the routes, we will be able to share that feeling of community with everyone on the PMC weekend!!

On October 4, I will also participate in my second consecutive PMC Unpaved (started in 2023), a gravel bike fundraising ride over the scenic back roads of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts. Like all funds raised from any of the PMC events, we are closer by the mile to a cure.

Perhaps one day, cancer will no longer be in the conversation.

If you would like to sponsor me, please click on one of SUPPORT MY RIDE buttons on the left.

After completing your donation, you will be asked if your company has a matching grant program. Please consider this as well as it increases the impact of your generosity.

If you would prefer to donate by check, please make your check payable to: Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, noting PMC ID: DG0011 in the lower corner, and mail it to:

Dave Grossman

132 Jackson Street

Newton Centre, MA 02459

Please include your email address so I can stay in touch with you after the event and the check presentation later in the year. Also, let me know if there is anyone you would like me to ride for so I can include their name on my seat pack tag. It is the most important thing I do on this long weekend in August, and again in October.

Together, we can help find a cure for cancer.

All the best,

Dave