To my Friends, Family and Supporters,
Most of you will remember my past two years challenging myself to ride 5000 miles and raise $5000 for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through riding the Pan-Mass Challenge. In 2018, I faced challenges to trying to both ride and raise money and make life better for those with cancer. Work, grad school and general “adulting” are tough for a 27-year-old while also trying to ride over a hundred miles a week on a bike. Asking you all for donations is without a doubt the hardest part for me to decide whether I should ride. Many of you close to me know that I hate asking for help doing anything. Yet experiencing this event and those it touches silences my fear and I have once again committed to raise $5000, and I need your help.
Many have asked me where this money goes or have been curious as to how much of the money goes to actually impacting those with Cancer. The answer is simple, every dollar raised. At the conclusion of last year's ride a check for fifty-eight million dollars was handed to the Dana Farber. This sum of money represents a culmination of all dollars donated to riders and supporting events for the PMC. It is of significance to note that none of the dollars donated to riders went to salaries or corporate responsibilities. All donated dollars were directed entirely to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
The significance of this dollar amount cannot be understated. In addition to the size of the donation, it is of importance to note that this money goes unrestricted. Most money that comes through government funding or grants is provided with specific restrictions on how it can be used. The dollar amount provided to the cancer institute by the PMC organization is given with no restrictions and allows them to use the money to work on things such as orphan drugs that cannot be supported in any other way.
For those of you who are new to this letter, let me explain the PMC. It is an annual bicycle ride that takes place on the first weekend of August. The starting point is Sturbridge, Massachusetts. We ride 110 miles to the Bourne Bridge, where we stay overnight. The following morning, we get up and leave from the Bourne Bridge and ride to Provincetown, Massachusetts.
This year I will be doing the ride with my father-in-law, Jeff. We have ridden together for a number of years and look forward to this as an annual family outing. We are supported by our entire family as well as the family of some of our riding partners.
I understanding that donations are asked of all of us throughout the course of the year. As always, if this represents a difficult time or if you are unable to donate, we fully understand and appreciate the support you have provided in the past. If you can, please donate via this page.
Once again, thank you for all your support.
Sincerely,
Jesse Safran
Follow my miles at: http://www.strava.com/athletes/2629969
