Hi there,

I'm Justin. While cancer touches everyone, the PMC feels especially personal for me. I've loved riding bikes for as long as I can remember. My younger brother is a (soon-to-be) PhD cancer researcher. And I have lost three immediate family members to cancer—a grandmother I never knew, an uncle I knew and loved dearly, and my mother, who was a central pillar of my life in every possible way.

My mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018, and died in July of 2022. As the years have passed, her loss has faded while her absence has grown. I will never get to look back on pictures of her holding my son Brooks, or ask her for advice on handling a toddler who refuses to accept help with things well beyond his grasp. In her absence, what I have are little bits and pieces that she seeded throughout my life. Each time my brothers come through for me, I feel her in how she taught us to support one another. Each time one of her friends checks in with me, I feel her in how she kept them updated on my life, multipying everyone's joy. Each time I see a parent put their children first, I feel her in how much pride she took in being a Good Mom (and now how much pride I take in being a Good Dad). And whenever I'm able, I think back to how much fun we had sitting together, of all places, in the hospital.

Of all the things I learned from my mom, the one that has most been on my mind lately is appreciation. As my family found out, a person can be ripped from your life at any moment. Even if your life is normal, and even if that person is a central pillar, they may disappear. This makes each moment special. I ask for your donation first so we can help cure cancer, such that it will no longer take our moms from their families. I also ask for your donation as an act of appreciation. I hope that in donating, you may take a moment to appreciate not having to drive to the hospital weekly, not having to spend hours figuring out how to boost someone's calorie intake, and not having to figure out how to manage a family without its CEO. My donation will help me appreciate the astonishing kindness and skill of the professionals at Dana Farber, who gave us time and dignitiy in our most difficult period.

Thank you in advance for any donation, and don't hesitate to contact me for any reason!

Best,

Justin