The photo on the left is me, 22 years ago, completing my first PMC. I committed my ongoing support to raise money for The Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) because finding cures and treatments for cancer is personal for me. Too many people in my life and those who support my ride have been touched by cancer. I began supporting the PMC to honor my sister-in-law Chris who died from pancreatic cancer in 2002. She will forever be an inspiration to me. I have since lost several family members while others close to me are fighting their own battles. Thankfully, several count themselves as survivors.

PMC is committed to its mission of funding cancer research through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute with its annual bike ride across Massachusetts. On August 3 and 4, over 6,000 riders will pedal nearly 200 miles to support PMC and Dana Farber.

I am asking you to join me by donating to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund. Because of so many generous contributions over the years, I’ve raised over $164,000.

100% of your donation goes to directly to Dana Farber to help ensure that life-saving research and treatments continue. The PMC’s impact on enabling that success is evident in the fact that on July 12th we surpassed the $1 BILLION donation since the PMC began in 1980!

If you like, please include the name of someone that you wish to dedicate my ride to. I will place their name on the top tube of my bike. They too will be my companions on the road—their feet are on my pedals—all are my heroes.

When PMC began in 1980, less than 5 million people in the United States survived their fight with cancer. This year that number is over 18 million! In the last 5 years Dana-Farber has provided more than half of all cancer drugs approved by the FDA.Cancer will not be cured overnight. However, I am committed to getting closer by mile every year I ride and with your help, we will arrive there together.

From the bottom of my heart, Thank you!

Mark