This year marks my 22nd year riding the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC), a bike ride benefitting the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

The ride takes on even more significance for me as I lost my father to cancer in December 2022.

My father also rode in the PMC for many years and when he couldn’t ride anymore, he volunteered at the end of the first day in the food tent. I will miss seeing him cheering me on and the pride in his eyes when I crossed the finish line. He was a dedicated supporter of cancer research and treatment, raising $1 million over the years. It always meant so much to me to have the bond with him over our shared passion. It is now my mission to carry his torch and keep his legacy alive.

Most of us have at least one family member or friend that has been affected. For me, it's been too many. I lost my grandma Mitzi, my uncle Howard and my cousin Perry. Perry passed away in 1999, after a short, yet courageous battle with cancer of the small bowel. This October will be 25 years and it is still unthinkable that Perry, a marathoner, triathlete, and an inspiration to me, lost his life at age 32.

To date, I have raised over $162,000 thanks to you! In 2023, Team Perry reached an amazing milestone - $10 million!

When I first started this journey, I had no idea what kind of impact it would have on me. Cycling has become a passion of mine, partly because I feel like I am doing my small part to help make a difference in the fight against cancer. Each pedal stroke translates into dollars, and those dollars have funded the salaries of some brilliant Fellows who have made enormous contributions to the research and treatment at Dana Farber.

The Perry S. Levy Fund for Gastrointestinal Cancer Research at Dana Farber is endowed to support the salary of up to two named Fellows or Junior Faculty members allowing them to work in the clinic treating patients and also giving them much needed lab time for critical research for prevention and cure.

We could really use your help and ANY amount is greatly appreciated.