This year, the Peregrine Pedalers will be riding in our 7th Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) the first weekend in August, from Wellesley to Provincetown, MA (nearly 200 miles)! 100% of your generous support goes directly to Dana Farber's nonsmokers' lung cancer research and development.

I am honored to be supporting the Peregrine Pedalers in their 7th year to support Dana Farber and lung cancer research to honor our remarkable mother, Eleanor Robinson, who died in 2022 from a 5-year cancer battle. She lived life to the fullest until the end - read her full obituary here. It’s hard to believe that she, a marathon runner (we ran three 1/2 marathons together from 2014-2017), conservation scientist, educator to young and old, music player, chorister, healthy eater, avid birder, epic outdoor adventurer, and never smoker carried cancer, and of all, non-smokers lung cancer.

The PMC means so much to our family - more than can be shared in this post. Through our fundraising and advocacy work for the PMC, we have formed deep connections with Dana Faber, Dr. Pasi Janne, and those a part of the thoracic oncology department. These incredible doctors, researchers, and staff at Dana Farber are supporting and saving the lives of moms, dads, sisters, brothers, family members, and friends throughout the country every day. Through a partnership with PMC, all the funds raised by the Peregrine Pedalers will go directly to Dr. Janne's Dana Farber Non-Small Cell Cancer Research Lab (http://jannelab.org/).

Mom received a Stage 3 diagnosis of non-small cell, non-smokers lung cancer caused by a genetic mutation, EGFR, in the summer of 2017 and was quick to make sweeping changes to respond to this. This included homeopathic work: more rest, good food, conversations with survivors, and the support of a healing community. It also included the expertise and work of incredible doctors at Dana Farber, Smilow Yale New Haven, and Mass General Hospital, undergoing surgeries removing half her lung, aggressive chemo and radiation, and many, many scans. As a family, we thought there was no way cancer could develop -- our warrior mama has got this. Months after feeling in the clear from a good set of scans, we sadly found ourselves in hell as we knew it again. Cancer had crept up and resurfaced this time in her bones, spinal cord, and brain. Stage 4.

Mom, the lifelong athlete and an all-around tough cookie, decided to double down with her medical team on what could be done. She started on a targeted chemotherapy pill, which had recently been pulled off a clinical trial for its positive outcomes. The life-extending pill was developed by Dr. Pasi Janne and his NSCLC lab at Dana Farber (http://jannelab.org/).

The pill mom took extended her high quality of life for many years. We are riding to ensure that medicine and treatments continue to be developed and ultimately put patients into remission. Dr. Janne's lab is at the forefront of research and innovation to develop options for the tens of thousands that find themselves in this unwanted position. There is an urgent need for research and drug advancement for this cancer - and your support for our ride makes this possible.

From the initial diagnosis, mom faced an uphill battle with this vicious disease. She inspired us daily in her ability to prioritize health, family, and learning. She did not pass up opportunities to discover birds in the woods, scurry up Adirondack mountains, write beautiful articles about nature and the wonderous world, host parent/child sing-a-longs at the local library, cook scrumptious meals, boogie down to a rocking beat, and seize every day. Throughout the whole journey, we knew there was only so much in our control, and are continuously grateful for the research and development to address this disease. We know that without the research on this cancer that preceded her diagnosis, we’d be sharing a very different story. We hope this ride will support the research and believe it will lead to a cure.

Thank you for joining in supporting the Peregrine Pedalers in our fifth Pan Mass Challenge with the goal of finding a cure or a long-lasting treatment for this disease. We pedal on and gain hope through action, attention, and more research. Our family is grateful for all the love and support. Please consider donating to my page in honor of someone who inspires you to fight for a cure.

Let's give cancer the bird.