This is YEAR FIVE for me riding with Evan’s Crew to fight Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. DIPG is an inoperable juvenile brain tumor that took the life of a firecracker of a kid. Evan was 10 years old when he and his family found out the reason behind his illness. He fought the brave fight, succumbing one year to the day from his diagnosis. DIPG attacks between 250-300 children each year. Evan’s family has been continuing his fight raising awareness, and more importantly money, for DIPG research in the hopes of giving families facing this dire situation options that weren’t available for Evan.

This will be my fourth year joining Evan's family (parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins) and friends on the official two-day, 162-mile ride from Wellesley to Provincetown. I continue to ride for all those who have lost a brother or a sister to DIPG. It wasn't to a childhood cancer, but I lost a brother at too young an age. It’s been twenty-nine years since we lost Jamie, but his loss continues to impact us. I continue to ride so that young nephews and nieces can have the chance to meet their aunts and uncles in person and not just through photos and their parents' stories. I am riding so that families may one day have real treatment options for this unforgiving disease that preys on children, often taking them from their families less than a year after diagnosis. I am riding for a cure.

Every dollar donated to my ride goes to the Evan T. Mandeville DIPG Research Fund at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If it is within your means, please sponsor my Pan-Mass Challenge ride. No amount is too small and the difference it could make could be life-saving. Thank you for your support. #EvansCrew #TowardsACure #ForTheSiblings