Hello my name is Jack O’Riordan I am asking you to support me in my fifth ride of the Pan Mass Challenge. For those of you unfamiliar with the Pan Mass Challenge, it is a 192 mile bike ride to raise money for cancer research.

Some of you know all about me and some of you may not. At the age of one I went in for my one year well baby check-up. It was discovered I had a grape fruit sized tumor encapsulating my kidney. It was called a Whilms tumor. The surgeons at children’s hospital removed the tumor and thought they had gotten all the cancer out. We found out later that this was not true. It was then discovered I had ten tumors on my lungs and was prescribed four years of chemo and radiation. I have been cancer free since then and I feel I owe my life to the Jimmy Fund and the Pan Mass Challenge.

The Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Jimmy fund is the only research center that does not have to rely on federal funding to research less common forms of cancer, which a whilms tumor was. When I was diagnosed, there were only 8 other people in the country with the same type of cancer. The federal government would not sponsor research for such a rare form of cancer. The Jimmy Fund gets most of its money for research from the PMC (35 million dollars last year). This money comes with no strings attached and DFCI can research anything form of cancer they see fit. Obviously I am grateful they decided to research whilms tumors.

To show my appreciation I have been hold a sign since I was 3 at the Nickerson water stop in Brewster mass to thank the riders for their life saving efforts. As you might imagine I have always wanted to ride the PMC and in 2012 I got my chance. A week after signing up for my first ride, I shattered my ankle yet still rode. This event means so much to me and i will let nothing stand in the way of completing it.

Any financial support no matter how small would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Jack O'Riordan