Ellen Monheimer Kirk

http://www.pmc.org/egifts/EK0035

This is the difficult time of year when reality hits me squarely in the face. The reality that pancreatic cancer killed my dad eight years ago. The reality that cancer still thrives. That reality includes the strong probability that, as things stand today, someone we love will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. For males, the odds are nearly 1 in 2 (42.1%) and for females the odds are more than 1 in 3 (37.6%).

The first weekend in August I will ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge for the 12th time to raise funds for treatment and research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). I will be riding with a torn meniscus. That's nothing compared to the pain and grief cancer causes. I'm asking for help from you. Donate whatever you can. Donate online (http://www.pmc.org/egifts/EK0035) or send me a check payable to The PMC.

100% of your donation will go to cancer treatment, research, and education at DFCI. The PMC has no fancy building – it’s headquartered in a warehouse. The full-time staff is skeletal, swelling by more than 3,000 volunteers each summer. The unavoidable hard costs of putting on the event are underwritten, so precious donations are not used.

It bears repeating - 100% of your donation goes to cancer treatment, research, and education at DFCI. That’s 100% of all rider-raised funds. Please help us reach this year’s $66 million goal.

Thank you,

Ellen
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