"Government policies may change, but our mission and our values do not."
– Benjamin Ebert
President & CEO, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The PMC celebrated raising over $1 billion in its history just last November. What we did not know then was that life saving progress already funded by the PMC community would be threatened by the current NIH funding cuts. The potential estimated loss is frankly, massive and estimated at $30-40 million directly to DFCI. In addition, future proposed NIH budget funding cuts for overall science research grants are estimated to be $18 billion across the board. These results would be a significant blow to DFCI and its ability to develop cancer breakthroughs for our patients and communities, whom we ride for every year.
As part of the PMC community, Team Fear Nothing and I will stand up and do what we do best:
- Support best-in-class cancer research.
- Support Dana-Farber and its world-class team of doctors and nurses.
- Be the catalyst to developing cures and treatments for all cancers.
Dana-Farber needs your help more than ever. With the potential to lose significant NIH funding, the work we have all championed for almost 50 years is threatened. Imagine if it were you, or your family, being told that funding for your clinical trial or treatment was now frozen, or worse, cut. But in these uncertain times, it is a certainty that the PMC will continue to provide hope and funding.
I look forward to conquering the 162-mile distance between Wellesley and Provincetown with Team Fear Nothing alongside my medical school classmate, Dr. Henry Su, in support of his wife and another of my classmates, Dr. Kimmie Ng, Associate Chief of GI Oncology and Director of the Young Onset Colorectal Cancer Center at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute! I am privileged to be directing all my fundraising to support her translational research, particularly in Colorectal Cancer, a cancer whose incidence has been skyrocketing amongst younger and younger patients (such as the late Chadwick Boseman, Boston University's own Ibram X. Kendi, and my late high school friend, Dr. Rachel Permuth). In fact, colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in males under 50 and the 2nd leading cause in females under 50 with rates continuing to rise rapidly and globally.
Colorectal Cancer screening and treatment is a cause near and dear to my heart, not only as an individual with a family history of colon cancer, but as an Abdominal Radiologist and long-time advocate for colorectal cancer screening, especially when it comes to raising awareness for the option of CT Colonography (CTC, aka Virtual Colonoscopy). This is an excellent and often overlooked option for those looking to avoid a traditional colonoscopy (whether due to risks of sedation, inconvenience of needing a driver, possible complications, need to discontinue anticoagulation, or due to colonic tortuosity or prior abdominopelvic surgery). It is also a convenient option for younger working patients, especially since the age for colorectal screening has been lowered to 45.
I have written about and interviewed about these topics on behalf of the American College of Radiology over the past few years and invite you to learn more about this option for yourself and your family and friends:
Last but not least, I am riding this year in memory of two friends who passed away recently, both from early age onset cancers, a health crisis for Generation X, Millennials, Gen Z, and other generations to come. This year, I ride for my high school classmate, Dr. Rachel Permuth (mentioned above) who passed away in May 2022 from colon cancer, and Dr. Christine Kim, my late sister-in-law who passed away in April 2022 from ovarian cancer.
Please join me and Team Fear Nothing in supporting Dr. Kimmie Ng and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the fight against cancer. Donations are tax-deductible. Don’t forget to utilize your company’s corporate matching funds if available- every bit counts!
