I've wanted to do a PMC ride for quite some time as I've always loved cycling and riding for a cause. Personally, I've had both friends and family impacted by cancer and in November 2021 a good friend and coworker, Heather Budd, lost her battle with ovarian cancer. She was 45 years old.

Heather had an uncanny ability to build the most meaningful relationships and interactions regardless of circumstances. She always made me laugh and made space for me to be myself. When I originally applied for a job with Azara it was with the Client Success team, and I remember during the interview process, Heather and I talked for over an hour. While she didn’t end up offering me a job (classic Heather) she did leave a lasting impression on me. Before she got sick, and I officially came over to Client Success, I told her she was the reason I decided to come to Azara. Her unbridled passion and enthusiasm for her work was so refreshing, I knew not to pass on the opportunity to work together. I’m so glad I did. I still have Heather in my phone and I recently looked at our texts and the last message I sent to her was introducing her to my daughter and hoping she has Heather’s same strong warrior spirit.

Please consider donating to this very worthy cause. I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last year 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.