The privilege of the fight:

A love letter to those facing cancer.

First comes the question - Could this be cancer?

Then come the tests - The labs, the scans, the needles, the biopsies, the waiting, the staging, the anguish.

If the news is not good, droves of information begin pouring in at a dizzying pace. You're deciphering terms you've never heard before as you try to learn this new cancer language, and nothing makes sense because you still can't even believe that this diagnosis has been assigned to you.

The fight begins; care teams assemble, and treatment plans are outlined which may involve chemotherapy, surgery, radiation or all three. Consequences of these treatments may include hair loss, pain, burns, nausea, complications, exhaustion, frustration, sadness, despair, or all of these. Even if the prognosis is good, the question lingers: Am I going to make it?

For the fortunate, this fight begins with access to world-class cancer care at Dana Farber Cancer Institute as it did for me from diagnosis to survivorship. Specialists at Dana Farber collaborate to give every patient the best chance for a positive outcome through comprehensive care, also providing resources, community, and support for patients and their families. Because of the care I was privileged to receive at the Susan F. Smith Center for Women's Cancers I had the courage, strength and resolve to fight through it all after my diagnosis of Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) in January, 2021, and am now cancer free.

For those facing a cancer diagnosis or who are close to someone who is, I am with you and I am riding for you. I am Living Proof that fundraising matters, science and research matter, access to quality cancer care at an institution like Dana Farber matters. Everyone facing cancer deserves this privilege of the fight - the chance to battle cancer with access to the best cancer care in the world.

Participating in this extraordinary event means sharing joy, sorrow, solidarity, support and camaraderie with over 6,800 riders and 3,500 volunteers, all coming together for this common goal of fighting cancer and giving back. It is my privilege to ride with my husband Renny Smith and Team Duncan, contributing to the funds that help to ensure cancer survivorship like mine remains possible. Join me by supporting my ride on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025 to help fund the future of cancer research and care at Dana Farber. All contributions go directly to Dana Farber and are 100% tax deductible, you will receive an acknowledgement notice from the PMC for your tax records, simply click on the link on my page to donate.

With warmth, gratitude and love,

Jenny