Dear Friends and Family,

On August 2nd, for my second time, I will be riding 85 miles in the Pan Mass Challenge from Wellesley to Bourne on Cape Cod. Riding the PMC last year was one of the most incredible moments of my life. To be surrounded by thousands of other riders, volunteers and supporters all working to end cancer is hard to put into words. It was a day filled with tremendous joy, tears and overflowing gratitude.

In February of this year, amidst a health scare, I returned to Dana Farber. To get to my appointments I walked over the PMC Bridge of Progress which connects the two buildings of Dana Farber. My eyes welled up with pride and awe. I had walked over this bridge 10 years earlier when I was first diagnosed. But this time was different. As I looked at the video screen showing clips from the PMC and at the glass case featuring the biking jerseys from this past summer I felt hope and connection.

I ride in gratitude for my 10 years of being “living proof” and in memory of my beloved sister in law Jill Sisenwine Berger. I also ride in honor of those I love who are still in the fight and in memory of those I never knew.

In this single weekend, the PMC will raise more money for cancer treatment and research than any other single athletic event in the world, with 100% of every rider raised dollar going directly to Dana Farber. Because governmental medical research funding is being so severely cut, now more than ever, your donation is critical.

My goal to raise $18,000, though lofty, is nothing compared to what patients, researchers and doctors at the Dana-Farber Institute are doing each and every day.

I thank you in advance for your support.

In love and gratitude,

Heidi