I'm a proud participant in the Pan-Mass Challenge - a bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country - to bring us Closer by the Mile to a cure for cancer. I will be biking 186 miles from Sturbridge MA to Provincetown MA to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

In 1987, my dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. His diagnosis was made after several months of not feeling well but screenings and early detection were not as advanced as they are today. By the time his diagnosis was made it was too late and the cancer had metastasized and he was referred to Dana-Farber for treatment. My family and I are so grateful to the providers at Dana-Farber for their unwavering compassion and tireless efforts to make my dad as comfortable as they could. Sadly, my dad passed away just a few months after his diagnosis. Today I reflect on that time with bittersweet emotions. The loss was devastating to my family, but we witnessed first-hand the successful outcome for other cancer patients that would not have been possible without the treatment and care they received at Dana-Farber. Great strides have been made to fight this awful disease that would otherwise not be possible without the work of the researchers at Dana-Farber. My mom and sister were both diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to annual screenings and advanced early detection tests, treatment options were available, and both mom and sister fought and won their battles.

Since its founding in 1980, PMC riders like me have raised more than $1 billion for lifesaving cancer research, treatment, and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the country's top cancer care hospitals. My PMC is making a difference in the lives of patients at Dana-Farber and around the world. The funds I raise support the innovative work of doctors, nurses, and scientists in their search for cures for cancers and related diseases.

100 percent of every dollar I raise goes directly to Dana-Farber, meaning that your donation has a real impact! Please donate to my PMC fundraising and help me reach my fundraising goal.