Dear Friends and Family,

I hope you are all well!

Somehow the annual Pan Mass Challenge is here again and with it, my annual appeal. This Saturday will mark my 15th ride. It feels auspicious. In truth, I never really thought I would be doing this for so long.

A few weeks ago, on July 18, my late husband Bob would have turned 60 years old, and this coming September will be the 15th anniversary of his passing. My dear friend, Wendy Clayton, would have turned 60 in May. So many of our friends are hitting that 60-year-old marker this year, or did so in the last year (me!) or will in the next. I try not to whine about getting older because I feel grateful for the privilege to have had these 60 years, and I feel sad that Bob and my friends, Wendy and Maureen Manning and Bob Ruxin, and so many others, only got part of the journey. At least for this summer and hopefully for a few more, I'll be riding for Bob, for Wendy, for Maureen, and for Bob R, who continue to inspire me.

Bob was alive to see the first two years of our team in action. The second year of our team, in 2008, we raised over $40,000 and Bob was so proud and touched by the effort and generosity of his friends and supporters. We've now passed the $1.25 million mark and I often wonder what Bob's reaction would be to that! I'm so grateful for the support you've given me over the last many years. If you would like to make a donation to this year's ride you can click on one of the links below. Some of you have already donated to this weekend's ride and I thank you for your generosity and for being so impressively proactive!

If you prefer, you can mail a check made out to Pan-Mass Challenge and mail it to me at 46 Springdale Ave., Dover MA 02030.

Enjoy the rest of the summer. I'll be thinking of you all this weekend!

Thank you and take care,

Elizabeth