January 3, 2019

Dear Friends and Family,

Here I go again…

This August I will be riding my 14th PMC. I am committed to supporting the tradition of lifesaving research and compassionate care that we came to know at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Our doctors at Dana-Farber gave Greg, and our family, more quality time together. What I remember vividly is that Greg’s oncologist treated us as if we were the only patients he had to see that day. He was particularly good at listening. At the time, they weren’t able to cure Greg’s disease, but they are making great strides in treating and curing many kinds of cancer. I am commited to helping them in their work.

Since 1980, the PMC has contributed over $598 million to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute which finances research in its earliest stages. PMC is Dana-Farber’s largest single contributor and raises more than 50% of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. 100% of every rider-raised dollar from the PMC goes directly to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.

Again this year, I am directing my donations to The Erica Leafquist Fund at Dana Farber. Erica’s Fund supports the work of Dr. Lewis Silverman (Erica’s lead doctor) and his team who are in pursuit of new techniques to fight leukemia. Dr. Silverman has discovered a gene marker that serves as an indicator for leukemia relapse. This marker allows patients’ treatment to be altered accordingly. As of February 2017, the test for this gene marker has been successfully used on pediatric leukemia patients.

Cancer doesn't discriminate. It can strike anyone regardless of age, education, race or financial status. Please help me fight this disease by contributing to my PMC 2019. Cancer is unrelenting and we must be too. I am truly grateful for your support and encouragement. It is your contributions that make the PMC the successful fundraiser that it is.

I am committed. Are you with me? To donate, go to www.pmc.org/profile/MD0202. Or, you can mail a check made out to “PMC” to me, at 6 Sterling Lane, Westford, MA 01886. Any amount can make a difference, and bring us closer to a cure. If there is someone special that you would like me to ride in honor, or in memory of, please include that info with your donation.

I ride because I can, and, for those who can’t. I thank you for your generous support of me, and the Pan-Mass Challenge.

Riding in loving memory of Greg and Mom, with humble gratitude for the time we had,

Marcia