2025

Well, our favorite time of year is upon us! We're getting ready to once again saddle up for the PMC on Sunday, August 3rd. This year, with severe budget cuts across the board, raising money for Dana Farber is of critical importance. I don't know of a family who has not been touched by cancer. With many labs being forced to close, it's now up to PMC, to help bridge the gap. 100% of your donations goes directly to Dana Farber.

Thank you so much for your continued support it is truly appreciated.
Much love,

Joanna

2023
Dear Friends and Family,

I'll be riding in the PMC this Sunday, August 6th, with team Opa Opa!!!! It's our second year of riding and will be lead by our fearless, super healthy Stacy Valhouli! woohoo!!!
Thank you to all for the amazing support.
Love,

Joanna

2022

Friends & Family,

This January my Cousin Stacy was diagnosed with advanced Stage Four cancer. It came as pure and utter shock, as less than four months before her diagnosis she was dancing on tables in Greece. With the help of many of you, she quickly assembled the oncology Dream Team of Dr. Ann LaCasce and Dr. Jordan Wengrod at Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston and set out to beat cancer in a way only Stacy Valhouli knew how. Before her first infusion even began, she told her doctors that no matter how the next few months unfolded that she was determined to ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge as a living proof patient.

While the nearly six month journey of intense chemotherapy has led to my cousin losing her hair, swinging and missing more volleys on the pickleball court than she would ever admit, and a few too many overnights at the hospital than we would have ever hoped, she is determined not take her diagnosis lying down and use this as an opportunity to be involved in a cause that has impacted every single one of our families.

And here we are! We have put together a team called Opa! Opa!!! (four exclamation marks for stage four) to ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge on Sunday August 7th. Stace (as a living proof patient) and nearly 15 of us will be riding 25 miles from Wellesley to Patriots Stadium in Foxborough and 100% of all money raised will go directly to fund the research of her two outstanding oncologists who are actively working to help find a cure for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Just as you may wonder how Stace’s idol/God Rafa played with cracked ribs and a hurt foot at Wimbledon, he needed medical intervention, and so will she. She is going to pop a few steroids, put on a bandana, and slip on to a saddle of an electric bike. So if Stace can do this, so can you!

So many of you have asked how you can help over the past few months and now I am cashing in all my chips with an ask!\

1. PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO TEAM OPA! OPA!!! We have a goal of raising $40,000 (for Stage Four) which I hope we blast through! To help incentivize donating, we are also creating The Opa! Opa!!! Club.

Everybody that donates +$1,000 to Team Opa! Opa!!! will have some type of naming rights to the “Stacy Beats Cancer Party” that we will happen this winter. While the official name of the party is taken, use this as an opportunity to get the bar named after you!

For every person that donates more than $250 or couples that donates more than $400, you will have an AUTOMATIC INVITE to the “Stacy Beats Cancer Party”! View your donation as a ticket and I hope you enjoy nearly that amount in Greek wine alone.

For every person that donates +$100, you will automatically be entered into a raffle for four great tickets to a game in your city. The drawing will occur at the “Stacy Beats Cancer Party”.

Finally, please share! If you know anybody that would be interested in donating or riding please forward along! Every rider and dollar really matters so please share on Instagram, Facebook, or wherever you communicate with your friends and family!

2. PLEASE CONSIDER RIDING IN SUPPORT OF TEAM OPA! OPA!!! Next weekend, no matter where in the world you are, go on a bike ride in support of Stace and team Opa! Opa!!! and send us a picture! We will post a picture of everybody who rode in support to the Team Opa! Opa!!! PMC page. If you are local, please also consider riding with us on Sunday as the more the merrier and we can help find you a bike and get you registered.

Dana Farber and the Pan-Mass Challenge (which has raised nearly $750m for cancer research at Dana Farber since it began nearly 40 years ago) is doing so much for families and I imagine has done so much directly or indirectly for many of you as well. Because of DFCI’s focus and dedication to being the global leader in Oncology, Dana Farber has the incredible ability to quickly roll out first of its kind medicines and treatment plans to cancer patients. My cousin is fortunate to be a direct recipient of a new targeted therapy treatment available at DFCI, which has transformed her care and has given her, an advanced Stage Four cancer patient, a chance at life. Most importantly, DFCI shares and open-sources all of their research across medicine so no matter where you are in the world, the research we are funding will help find its way to your community.

Lots of Love,

Joanna