Friends and Family,

First, thank you all for your support year after year raising money for the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). It is something near and dear to my heart and I appreciate all of your help. As I have been training this year, the words/theme popping into my head have been “sustained commitment”. I’ll try to explain a couple reasons why I think that might be.

1 Billion dollar year - The first PMC was the summer of 1980 with a handful of riders finding their way across Massachusetts. 44 years later, the PMC is poised to hit 1 billion in total funds raised for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute since that 1st ride. There is no question it has been a huge factor in the fight against cancer, but that didn’t happen without a sustained effort to keep it growing, and thriving into the event it is today.

Cancer’s evolving challenge - There have been so many advances to treat cancers that I remember impacting people when I was a little kid. Some are completely preventable and or curable today. What worries me now are the forms of cancer impacting people at a much younger age and in ways we have not traditionally seen. For me it calls for us to keep our sustained commitment and evolve to meet these new challenges. We have more work to do!

Next generation - I am a hugely proud father of 3 (Stella, John, and Penny). This year Stella, our oldest who just turned 14, is joining the PMC as a volunteer with a friend. I’ll get to see her at the half way stop in Bourne before heading over the bridge onto the Cape. I could not be more proud of her and am hugely excited to have her be a part of this with me, for what I hope are many years to come.

As I prepare to ride 300 miles across Massachusetts starting August 2nd, I hope I can count on you for your support. The minimum I need to raise to participate on the ride is $6000, and I can’t do this without your help. I appreciate that you have always come through for me and this year is no different.

Here is how to contribute:

Online: This page - you found it! http://www.pmc.org/DG0189

Mail: If you prefer to write a check, please make it out to the PMC, The Jimmy Fund, or Dana Farber Cancer Institute and send it to me at: 11 East St, Sudbury, MA 01776.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me at davegrosso@hotmail.com or give me a call at (617)794-6695.

Thank you for your support and generosity!

Take care,

Dave