Dear Friends and Family,

This August, I will be riding in my 14th Pan Mass Challenge (PMC), and I'm counting on your support. The PMC raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DCFI) through an annual bike-a-thon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The PMC is the largest single athletic charity event in the country. My team, the Brainstormers, rides specifically for children with DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). DIPG is an inoperable, high-grade brain tumor which grows in the middle of the brain stem, entrenching itself beyond the reach of conventional treatments, taking the child's vision, hearing and motor functions but never their awareness of what is happening to them. I ride for Declan Vail, our Pedal Partner, so that we can make advances towards curing DIPG and funding research at DCFI.

In addition, I ride for family and friends who have been touched by other forms of cancer. Although we are raising more money than ever for cancer research, cancer is on the rise. It is inevitable that someone close to you will be touched by cancer. More funds are needed to target specific cancer research. I hope that you will support my ride this year.

Thanks,

Jim