Here we go again, summer is here and that means it’s time for the Pan Mass Challenge. This August 2nd and 3rd I will join thousands of other riders and volunteers to raise critical funds for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Why we need to ride our bikes across the state to accomplish this still confounds me.

This will be my 21st Pan Mass and at this point I have admit at this point that each year it get's a little more difficult for me to do this. Much to my protests, I'm not getting any younger. But it's not just the physicality of the challenge - the training or the 160+ mile 2 day ride, it's more. It's the mental commitment to prepare and to fundraise. If you know me then you know that it is very hard for me to ask for help or a favor, yet here I am once again asking you for a favor and for your help.

Over the years the ride has changed for me, I'm no longer trying to see how quickly I can finish, or overly stressing about my fitness or the weather and it's impact on the weekend. The ride for me now is a slower journey thinking about the loved ones lost to cancer (way too many, and many way too soon) and those currently fighting their battle. It is a heavy load to carry on a 160 mile bike ride, and I do not bear it lightly. When it becomes overwhelming I try to think to think of some of the little victories in the battle: The friend in remission, my mother's extra 3 years, and I pedal on.

Each year I ride with 2 lists on my bike. The first list is people who have, or still are battling cancer, the second list is for those we have lost. The absolute worst part of each one of my PMC rides is when I type out those lists and have to move a name from one to the other. This year is going to be especially difficult as I move my dear college friend Dave's name across the list. To say Dave was one of the nicest most sincere people I have ever met is a wildly gross understatement, he was the best of us. This November he passed at just 59 years old, despite a heroic battle with an aggressive form of leukemia. I am dedicating my ride this year to him and his family.

While I still cannot make sense of this, I do know our best and only hope in fighting this disease is by funding research. Dana Farber has been named one of the top 3 cancer centers in the world, and we are it's largest fundraising partner. Last year we raised $75 million and since it's inception the PMC has raised and donated over $1 Billion to Dana Farber. As always 100% of all rider raised funds goes directly to Dana Farber, so whatever you can give gets put directly in the hands of those who can make a difference, the doctors, caregivers and researchers at DFCI. Together we can, and are making a difference.

So once again I’m asking you for your support in this fight, please consider making a donation and also check to see if your company does gift matching.

Thank you,

Jeff D’Agostine

Each year I tape names of cancer patients, victims and survivors on my bike, to reflect on during the ride. Please let me know if you would like to add a name. (You can email me, or call or text me at 508-259-9015)