This will be my first year riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge—something I've wanted to do for a long time. Let me tell you why.

Cancer has always been a part of my life. As many of you know, my mom battled brain cancer for seven years before it eventually took her life. I was just 10 when she passed away. Its hard to imagine how different I would be had I had my mom with me for the past 18 years. I often think about all of the phases and milestones of my life that I wish she were here to experience with me.

In college, I discovered Camp Kesem, a free summer camp for kids whose parents have cancer. I wish I had known about Kesem as a kid—I think it would have been incredibly helpful for emotional healing and a welcome distraction from the hardships my family was going through. Camp Kesem also brought me one of the greatest gifts in my life: my wife, Alexa.

It was also through Camp Kesem that Alexa got to know the Legg family, and Diane Legg, the founder Lungstrong. Over the past few years, I also grew close with Diane and the Legg family. Diane recently passed away after a long battle with lung cancer. Throughout her fight, she was a true inspiration—never letting cancer define her. She helped raise over $8 million for lung cancer research at Dana-Farber through Lungstrong. I like to think that Diane and my mom have now met and become friends, as I know they would have been here on earth.

I have a front row seat to some of this cancer research that is occuring, specifically in the Boston area. I work at the Broad Institute, where some of the world’s leading geneticists are working to solve the toughest problems in medicine—cancer being one of the biggest. As if I didn’t already have enough reason to ride the PMC this year, there’s now another. Much of the research at institutions like The Broad and Dana Farber is funded by the federal government, a system that has enabled the U.S. to become a global leader in medical research. Unfortunately, the current administration is threatening to cut this critical funding and we are already seeing the setbacks that these cuts are causing.

Now more than ever, cancer research needs our support. I’m riding the PMC this year for my mom, for Diane, and for the continued chase for a cure.

100 percent of every dollar I raise goes directly to Dana-Farber, meaning that your donation has a real impact. Please donate to my PMC fundraising and help me reach my fundraising goal.