If you were here last year reading my first-time rider testimony, you may know that in the span of three consecutive months, I lost three close family members to cancer. The PMC weekend fell right in the middle of that storm. Training became everything to me—an outlet for channeling the incredible weight and stress of it all into something productive, and a way to feel like I was contributing to my loved ones’ fights in some small but meaningful way. I couldn’t have anticipated how much more personal and poignant the ride would become.

In the second half of 2024, cancer continued to hit my family with blow after blow. My first PMC was bookended by the passings of two uncles: Charlie, just three weeks before the ride, and Angelo, a month to the day after him—only four days after I crossed the finish line. During one of my last visits with Angelo, he asked how the ride went and I showed him a picture of me holding my bike over my head at the finish. He smiled and raised his arms to mimic the pose. That was our last conversation. A month later, my cousin lost his wife Margarita the morning after her birthday, at just 47 years old, following a courageous battle with breast cancer.

Three lives in three months. Loss has never felt as certain or as motivating. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s (DFCI) mission and the PMC’s impact are closer to my heart now more than ever before.

I remember so many fellow riders telling me, “There is nothing like your first PMC. As I prepare for my second ride, I carry that moment with Angelo—and the love and loss that shaped last year—with me. This year will be even more meaningful.

But this ride is about more than just my family. I ride for close friends and colleagues who have faced the heartbreaking loss of loved ones, who are currently watching loved ones fight the fight, or who have fought their own relentless battles against cancer. I ride for those whose lives have been upended by the physical and emotional toll this disease takes. And I ride for the remarkable doctors, nurses, and researchers who dedicate their lives to developing treatments and bringing hope to those who need it most.

Once again, I’ll be riding 162 miles over the course of two days from Wellesley to Provincetown with Team Wolf Pack. I feel so fortunate to be part of a firm, Wolf Greenfield, that wholeheartedly supports this cause and a team equally passionate about making a difference. My fundraising goal this year is $10,000, and I’m driven by the hope that we can bring more families access to the resources, treatments, and care that made such an impact on mine. One hundred percent of every dollar raised will directly support DFCI’s groundbreaking research, innovative treatment options, and essential resources for patients and their loved ones.

When I signed up for my first PMC last year, I thought I was stepping into a challenge: 162 miles on a bike, physically demanding, with a hefty fundraising goal to hit. What I didn’t realize was just how much the PMC would give back to me in return. This ride has given me a sense of purpose in the face of loss and grief. It has surrounded me with an incredible community of people working toward a common goal to fund life-saving work. From my teammates to the thousands of riders, volunteers, and supporters who line all miles of the route, there’s a shared sense of unity, hope, and determination that is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s a reminder of what we as humans can accomplish when we come together—not just as individuals, but as a collective force for change.

Thank you so much for any donation amount, big or small, and for being a part of this journey.

Frankie