On August 3rd, I will be riding in my 5th Pan-Mass Challenge, a Massachusetts based bike-a-thon that raises funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Dana-Farber is a world leading cancer care and research center based in my hometown of Boston, MA, and holds a very special place in my heart. I had the honor of working at Dana-Farber early on in my career and saw firsthand the incredible care that is delivered to patients and their families each day who are fighting their toughest battles.

Each year, I ride in memory of my beloved friend Grace, who passed away from brain cancer in December 2020 after a long, two-year battle. Grace was beautiful, kind, brilliant, funny, passionate, and fiercely loyal. But most of all, Grace was the bravest person I’ve ever known. She never let her diagnosis define her and continued to fight her cancer until the very end. I am deeply honored to be able to share Grace’s story and to continue to carry on her legacy by raising money for the disease that cut her life far too short. Grace was a fighter, and I will continue to fight for her in the battle against brain cancer, so that one day no one will have to endure what she did. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Grace or mention a memory that we shared together. She lives with those who love her deeply.

I would also like to dedicate this year’s ride to my Mom Patty and Aunt Elaine’s big brother, Uncle Ray, who also battled cancer at a very young age. I grew up hearing stories about him that included him being the Valedictorian of his high school, a track and field star, and a brilliant future mechanical engineer just like his father. Uncle Ray was early on in his studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology here in Boston when he was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Less than a year later, he tragically lost his life.

I am incredibly grateful to my generous network of family, friends, and colleagues that have supported me and helped me raise over $37,000 for Dana-Farber since 2020. Please help me reach my goal for this year of $3,000 by donating and sharing this page. Each dollar raised will help support Dana-Farber's lifesaving mission to cure cancer. Together, we are one step closer to winning the fight against cancer.

-----

Grace was only 24 years young when she passed away from brain cancer after a long, 2-year battle. In those 24 years, Grace lived a beautiful life. She grew up in Concord, NH in a family full of immense love and support for one another, including her sister and brother Hannah and Sam, and her parents Ray and Anne. After graduating from high school, Grace attended college at the University of Connecticut where we met during our freshman year. The first thing I remember thinking after meeting Grace was that she was just so confident and full of this infectious, vibrant energy. I didn’t want to be her friend, I needed to be. Grace was a social butterfly as people were immediately drawn to her. She would light up any room that she walked into, and always had the biggest smile on her face. Some of my fondest (and most questionable) memories include Grace and our close group of friends at UConn. UConn is also where she met the love of her life, Tyler.

After graduating from college, Grace went on to study to become a Physical Therapist at Franklin Pierce University so that she could help others, something that was so innate to who she was. Her plans were cut short in the Fall of 2018 after being diagnosed with glioblastoma.

If you were lucky enough to be loved by Grace, you knew that you would be protected and cared for always. Grace held many amazing qualities that anyone would want in a daughter, sister, and friend; she was beautiful, kind, brilliant, spunky, funny, passionate, and fiercely loyal. But most of all, Grace was the bravest person I’ve ever known. She never let her diagnosis define her and continued to fight her cancer until the very end.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for supporting me and continuing to show Grace and her family how much she was and always will be so loved.

-----

I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last year 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.