Hello All,

Happy almost Summer everyone! I hope you are enjoying it –spending time with family and friends. It’s the best.

Although for some, it is not the best. It’s the toughest. Because they, or their loved ones, are fighting cancer. It is really hard. And scary. And daunting.

We can help. Let’s all fight together, shall we?

Look to the experts. Who fights better than hockey players? We are reminded of that regularly these days, in the midst of the Stanley Cup.

And who fought the best of them all? Yup, Wayne Gretzky. Know what he said? “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Reminding us to seize opportunities and take chances in all aspects of life. Give our best.

And when you fight, back it up. Mark Messier did. “I guarantee we’ll win tonight.” He followed with a legendary hat trick in ‘94, leading the Rangers to the team’s first Stanley Cup victory in 54 years. He backed it up.

FIGHT WELL. WHEN IT MATTERS. NEVER GIVE UP. Fighting well is done with ACTIONS. FORTITUDE. ENDURANCE. COURAGE.

Our loved ones fighting cancer demonstrate that. Every day. Fighting cancer is a Herculean effort. It’s the fight of one’s life.

I looked up synonyms for herculean btw … colossal, courageous, gargantuan, gigantic, heroic, huge, impressive, mighty, tough…’nuff said.

Gretzky would tell us to take EVERY shot to help our loved ones WIN. They need us. We can do it. All of us together. Fight cancer. Beat cancer. Win.

One person’s actions can actually change the lives of many. How about if we all join alongside our loved ones who are fighting cancer. Herculean effort, right? To borrow Messier’s confidence, “I guarantee we will win.”

I am biking again this year to fight cancer. Pedaling and pedaling, with Erica’s Entourage Pan Mass Challenge team, climbing hills on my bike so others can climb mountains.

Biking for 39 loved ones I know who have fought cancer and for thousands of others fighting too. Go away cancer! Stop hurting those we love. Each loved one fighting needs our support.

It's easy to help because any donation, no matter how small, makes a real, significant, positive difference for those struggling. With our gifts—those fighting can get better!

We can help. Turns out, magnificent doctors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are making extraordinary strides to eradicate cancer in both children and adults. Thanks to the support of many who help fund this life-giving research—they push the boundaries of modern medicine with immunology, precision medicine and 30+ cancer drug breakthroughs.

Loving. it's really about that more than anything, isn’t it? Making it possible for each person with cancer to live and love longer. To be loved more.

Let’s together beat cancer, so all those we love can live a long time by our sides.

My former boss, a brilliant soul, said to me “When in doubt...charge!”

And so we shall. Together.

Any contribution most appreciated—one life lost is one too many.

Love, Melody

Please share this with anyone you know who might like to help.

.… in no particular order

• My wonderful dad, Bob Badgett, one of the strongest people I know, 87
• Mildred Wall, outstanding aunt, lovely lady, lived to 97
• Ethel Hobson, fantastic aunt, terrific lady, now 101!
• Edith Snow, magnificent aunt, incredible lady, lived to 102
• Nora Duke, grandmother and amazing lady
• Diane Garner, incredible cousin and wonderful friend, like a sister
• Lou Duke, wonderful aunt, terrific lady
• Sharon Washam, cousin and wonderful lady
• Susan Hobson, cousin and incredible lady
• John Willingham, cousing and awesome human
• Linda (Indy) Davis, magnificent lady, outstanding friend
• Anne Lynne Charbonnet, incredible, strong, wonderful friend
• Chrissy Gilhully, one of the kindest most special, magnificent friends I know
• Jay Boswell, great guy, dear friend, go Jay go!
• Mary Ellen Kinhan, biking buddy, terrific friend
• Lee Dawkins incredibly strong, lovely friend
• Jess Bradley, amazing lady, strong, incredible. Keep it up Jess!
• Connie Preston Godbut, incredible lady and dear friend
• Chris Hessler, good friend, incredible fellow
• Big Jack Hessler, a dear friend and a real fighter right through to 92
• Joe Dillon, terrific cousin and dear friend
• Vicki Duke, terrific cousin and dear friend
• Maureen Stancik-Boyce, incredible friend
• Maureen Sullivan, wonderful friend
• Amy Cutler's mom, terrific lady
• Amuy Cutler's dad, wonderful man
• Margot Mimms Ross, amazing lady, terrific friend
• 3 Anonymous girlfriends, wonderful ladies, dear friends
• Larry Guild, magnificent fellow, great friend
• Patty Croccolo, fabulous lady and dear friend
• Dave Gould, fantastic fellow, always a smile on his face
• Sandra Gould, wonderful lady, really kind
• Toni Stroud, dear cousin and friend
• Clyde Canter, longtime neighbor and friend
• Joanna Price, longtime neighbor and friend
• Mary Hunnewell, a fine lady
• Terry Kellogg, great fellow and friend
• Anne Burling, dear woman
• Carol Groom, wonderful lady
• many more