WHY YOU ARE SO IMPORTANT
Your dollars have a direct impact on the progression to success for advanced cancer research and new therapy development at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
WHY I RIDE
My 19th PMC fund raising campaign celebrates the return to health for my wife Kit and daughter Jenna. Both were assessed as Stage IV cancers. Kit’s was diagnosed in April 2022 with a pNET or Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor, Jenna was diagnosed a year later in May 2023 with colon cancer.
Jenna elected to undergo surgeries to remove all malignant cancer cells from her liver and her colon. She flew in from Los Angeles to Dana-Farber and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital for these operations; her liver surgery was November 20, 2023, and her colon surgery was January 4, 2024. Her pathology reports indicated ‘no cancer present’. As a result her oncologist in Los Angeles decided to end her immunotherapy treatments and to order periodic CT scans to keep an eye on things. She had her infusion port removed recently.
Kit began her immunotherapy treatments in April 2023 after nine grueling months of chemo and radiation treatments failed. On February 13, 2025 her oncologist decided to terminate her infusions. He cited the facts; after 30 infusions and many CT scans it appears that there are no active malignant cancer cells in her body. Like Jenna she will have periodic scans to closely monitor her progress going forward. Her cohort of patients with her rare type of cancer have shown great success after two years. So we are locking our eyes on February 2027. If all is still good, she may be declared cured.
We know how incredibly fortunate we are to have the superb care provided by Dana-Farber and their amazing teams of doctors, nurses, and support staff including social workers, psycho-social doctors and the attention given to support care givers as they navigate the stormy waters of caring for their loved ones.
I have come to believe the Pan-Mass Challenge is the best way to directly help those among us who are afflicted with cancer. When I committed to the PMC campaign(s) in 2006 I was inspired by a friend whose daughter was fighting for her life against melanoma. Over the years the list of cancer patients I know and honor as friends and neighbors has continued to grow. Then cancer hit my family in a big way. These shocking developments have not only strengthened my commitment to raise funds for Dana Farber, but they also 'flip the script' in the sense that I never expected to have cancer strike so close.
This year I decided to GO BIG AND RAISE $15,000 in honor of my wife and daughter and all those whose memories I ride to honor every year.
I never forget that our primary goal is to help cancer patients by supporting the lifesaving research and treatment work at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Your generosity and caring makes a real difference in so many lives.
For 2024, the Pan-Mass Challenge campaign broke a major record raising more than $1B, as in Billion, since its beginning in 1980. We're all 'One in a Billion' now!
For 2025, I decided to return to Sturbridge to take part in the last PMC ride from this historic location before it moves to Worcester in 2026. It’s 2 days on the road for 186 miles. I’m looking forward to riding my second PMC as a member of the Heidi’s Heroes team
For 2025 my ride will be to honor friends I have lost to cancer, their friends and loved ones, and for those who have had the good fortune to thrive beyond:
- For my wife Kit whose strength and resilience have served her so very well throughout her cancer journey. We credit Dana-Farber and her oncology team for her positive outcome.
- For my daughter Jenna who faced the biggest health challenge of her life with courage and grace and is now 100% healthy again.
- For Ben Asuncion, Jenna's father-in-law who is bravely fighting lung and lymphoma cancers.
- For Pastor Rich Knight who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on July 6, 2024.
- For Stephen Mallette who lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on August 24, 2024.
- For Cindy Kunkel Wright who lost her battle with melanoma on July 1, 2006, after 19 months of bravery. It was after hearing Cindy's mother Ellen talk about Cindy's journey that inspired me to ride my first PMC. I will always ride to honor Cindy's memory.
- For Ted Buswick, who lost his fight with cancer on June 29, 2014. Ted was all about community in his life with his family, his church, his arts and theater groups, and his professional associations. I'm hopeful that drug therapies for his specific cancer are close to reality due to funds contributed from the PMC to Dana Farber.
- For David Owen Kent, 43 year old, son of a gardening friend, who lost his beautiful life after bravely dealing with a vicious head and neck cancer for ten months.
- For Carol A. Granger who died in March 2024 of stomach cancer after a 15+ year battle with trigeminal neuralgia.
- For Dan Dubner who was treated successfully at Dana-Farber.
- For Brian Jeannotte our next-door neighbor and friend who after supporting his wife Clare's cancer fight, discovered he had cancer himself. After surgery, his prognosis is looking great.
- For Clare Jeannotte our friend and neighbor who was declared cured of cancer of the tonsils. She credits her oncology team and the treatments she received at Dana-Farber for her successful outcome.
- For Erin McCoy Thomas who received a stage 4 diagnosis of colon cancer on July 31, 2015. Erin and my wife Kit were in the Boston Univ. Arts Administration graduate program together. A year later Erin was pronounced cancer free one year after her diagnosis; another Dana-Farber success! Congratulations to Erin and her family.
- For Bob Ritchie, my next-door neighbor, who lost his fight with lung cancer on Christmas Eve, 2015.
- For Lynne Davidson who lost her fight with stomach cancer. I have ridden many miles with Howie Davidson, 'living proof' as a rider who has beat his own cancer... Howie's dedication to the PMC goes way back!
- For Don Taylor, old friend, expert sailor, avid skier, loving father, who lost his battle with melanoma in 2010. I dedicate my rides to Don's memory.
- For Stacy Slaff Lucas, a close high school friend of Peter van de Graaf, an IBM colleague and fellow PMC rider. Stacy lost her battle with cancer in 2009.
- For Kelvin Lawrence, my friend, and IBM Distinguished Engineer, who has fought bravely and succeeded in his battle with colon cancer. Kelvin, you always amaze me with your strength and equanimity in the face of all your personal challenges. These rides are for you and those close to you.
- For Dion Gillard, a good friend of Kelvin's, who lost his battle with melanoma.
As a husband and father to my amazing wife and daughter now returning to healthy lives, and as a high-risk melanoma person, I will work hard to meet my goal of $15,000. Please join me in this effort.
Thank you!
Don Harbison
PMC Route: Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn Inn
