I am riding the Pan Mass Challenge to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the amazing work they do in cancer research and patient care. This cause is deeply important to me, as it is to many of you.

My Papa Scola unfortunately lost his hard fought battle nearly nine years ago to Pancreatic Cancer. My Papa still had much life left to live, and my family and I have missed him greatly every day.

My little cousin Olivia, Brave Livy, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia the day after her second birthday. The expense it took on her and her family was profound. Livy also fought a hard battle, and thank God, beat her cancer and just recently became considered “cured.” Watching Livy battle her cancer and go through treatment at Dana Farber at such a young age was difficult. No child should have to experience that and no family should have to watch their child, sibling, cousin, friend, etc. go through that. It is because of Livy that I am currently in graduate school to become a Certified Child Life Specialist. I hope to provide procedural and emotional support to promote effective coping to children and their families who are in the hospital. In my future career, I want to be able to reduce the anxieties, stress, and trauma that hospitalization can create for children and families and help them navigate difficult experiences.

As I am sure many of you have your own ways cancer has affected you and your families, these are a couple of the ways cancer has affected me and mine. Because of these reasons and more, I have decided to join Team Path to a Cure and ride in the PMC. This is a small way I feel that I can help Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund in their efforts to find a cure. I ask you all to consider donating to my page. Every dollar counts, is greatly appreciated, and goes directly to Dana Farber! Thank you for all of the support. Happy riding!