A little over eleven years ago, my mother, at the age of 35, was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. My younger sister, Deedee (two years old then), and I moved with my mother from Cincinnati to Boston, where she, thankfully, was able to receive top-of-the-line treatment from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and recover within about 1 year.

I was only six years old at the time and, admittedly, could not understand the gravity of my mother's illness. However, I was still deeply impressed and touched by the great courage and grace with which my mother handled her hardship. Not only did she throw herself into tackling her illness and keeping up with her well-being, but she also made that year in Boston a joyful one for my sister and I, always focusing on us and keeping a smile on her face. I will be forever thankful to her for the selflessness she displayed and for a thousand things more.

I will be riding 168 miles (270 kilometers) this summer (over two days) in honor of my mother and all the mothers out there who have had to cope with not only parenthood but also cancer. I hope that my support of the PMC will ensure that other cancer patients receive the same treatment my mother was blessed with, allowing their loved ones to enjoy their precious life.