I am honored to be a part of Team Sweet Annie to ride in honor of Annie McNamara Evans who recently passed away from Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

I met Annie at Bowdoin College and am so lucky to have been able to call her my friend for as long as I did. She could always make you laugh and she saw the good in every situation. Simply, she was the best.

I will never forget September 29, 2018 - the day Annie married the love of her life, Dan Evans. A perfect day for a wonderful couple. Annie had suffered a relapse after a period of remission that previous March, but the Dana Farber team worked hard to ensure that she could enjoy her wedding before she re-entered the hospital. Annie insisted that nobody know of her impending treatment, and the weekend was filled with incredible love and joy.

Unfortunately, the following year was filled with setbacks. Annie’s cancer was as tenacious as she was, and after a second transplant, several experimental treatments, and multiple hospitalizations, Annie died on November 7, surrounded by her husband and family.

Throughout her journey with AML, Annie, Dan, and her family received top notch care and support from countless members of the team at Dana Farber. Every time that I visited Annie in the hospital, I was blown away by the support around her. Team Sweet Annie will unite to raise money and support research at Dana-Farber in Annie's memory. It is our hope that other patients and families won’t have to go through this heartache in the future. 100% of the funds that we raise will go to Dana-Farber. Our team is made up of family and friends, young and old, new and experienced riders - and we're all commited to the same thing. Finding a cure.

Annie was a selfless, loyal friend, and I miss her every day. This ride means so much to so many - and any and all of your support means the world to me. I know that Annie will be smiling (and probably laughing at me, too) for all 161 miles from Wellesley to Provincetown.

Love, Emily