Dear friends and family,

This summer I am participating in my second PMC ride with my mom, Tamara Takoudes. I am an athlete at Colby College and last year I completed my first PMC ride after being inspired by watching my mom. After being inspired by everyone participating last year and seeing everyone supporting the riders along the route, I am back for year two! My grandfather, Ray Cochran, is an 9-year pancreatic cancer survivor. For 2025, my mom and I will be riding for JOEL, living with Stage 4 Glioblastoma, a terrible brain cancer.

Joel is an avid cyclist and a scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and has an 8-year-old son and wife, who are the center of his world. Joel has been living with a grade IV glioblastoma since October 2022. In addition to surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, Joel is being treated with concurrent immunotherapies including a tailored vaccine developed by Germany-based CeGat. Despite his challenges, Joel's positivity shines through, and riding for him is a privilege. He is amazing as he continues to use biking to fight his cancer!

I am committed to raising funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's (DFCI) Jimmy Fund through the Pan Mass Challenge (www.pmc.org), an annual cycling event that raises more money than any other single athletic fundraiser in the US. Last year, the PMC raised $72 million, totaling $972 million raised overall, with 100% of rider-raised funds going directly to Dana-Farber.

Known as seed money, your PMC contribution supports the most pressing needs and promising developments at DFCI. Because glioblastoma research is underfunded and because I know several people including Joel who are battling or have battled this insidious disease, the funds raised are directed to glioblastoma research at the Center for Neuro-Oncology at Dana-Farber. Your support will contribute to collaborative research projects led by Dr. Wen and Dr. Reardon which benefit people globally fighting high grade glioblastomas.

The PMC is an amazing organization and has achieved so many goals to beat cancer. If this is your first year contributing, please consider a minimum donation of $25. Sponsorship is easy using the PMC’s secure server at (https://www.pmc.org/egifts), just enter your credit card information and my eGift ID (LT0148). Please don't forget about matching gifts that are available to you through your company or other affiliations.

Each mile pedaled, each dollar raised brings us closer to a cure. For all our families and friends, I am so proud to be part of this challenge and now to be with my mom to accept this challenge. Please join us!

Love,

Lize and Tamara Takoudes

#BEATCANCER #TEAM 3G #JOEL #COLBYMULES #CFH