Everyone knows someone affected by cancer; it's everywhere. My great aunt, Viviane, unfortuantely lost her battle to pancreatic cancer 7 years ago, and although the pain I felt then felt like a pain no one else understood, my story is not unique. What is unique is the cause that I am biking 190 miles in two days for. From just outside my office at Boston Children's Hospital, I can see one of the country's best cancer centers, Dana-Farber. It is with them that I will be riding for and with in the Pan-Mass Challenege in August. The Pan-Mass Challenge is the largest single athletic charity event in the country, with 100% of its rider-raised revenue going directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institites's cancer research and support. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $547 million in support, with last year raising $47 million.

I will be training until August 5th, where I will ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown MA in just two days. Until then, I will be gaining support from my friends, family, coworkers, and hopefully some friendly strangers in order to reach at least the minimum fundraising goal of $4800. Of course, I would love to raise more than just the minimum, but just getting to $4800 would be enough to let me ride on 8/5. I, with a few of my friends who will be joining me, will be hosting events around Boston, and potentially home in NY if I can in order to have some more local and interactive ways to give back.

As with all charities, every cent counts and especially when it comes to a cause such as this, you know that the entirety of what I will raise will go somewhere that has impacted you and me in some way, shape, or form.

Thanks for taking the time to read through this and I hope that you will at least share my page to get the word out for this fantastic cause that I am so excited for!

xoxo,

Jess