I’m participating in the 2025 PMC as a fourth year rider to fund the future of oncology research. In April of 2021 in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I had a large gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) resected and received a diagnosis no one wants to hear.

While it was daunting to learn GISTs are resistant to traditional chemotherapy and radiation, I’m incredibly lucky that there are a multitude of FDA approved “targeted drug therapies” such as Gleevec that wouldn’t have been developed without the research my oncologist, Dr. George Demetri, and his talented team conducted at Dana Farber. Approved by the FDA in 2001, Gleevec made the cover of Time Magazine described as the revolutionary new miracle drug that has since saved the lives of 350,000 individuals.

While the advent of these innocous medications was a profound medical advancement, there’s no reason to stop here. In a monolithic effort to eradicate cancer, I invite you to join me in supporting the ongoing research at Dana Farber as we bike across Massachusetts the first weekend of August.

Your support will go a long way as we get closer by the mile.

Thank you,

John