2021 - Crossing the finish line with my dad! This picture means everything to me! RIP Dad xoxo

This has been a tough spring for re-entry to riding. The weather wasn't so cooporative and emotionally I didn't feel ready...we just eclipsed the 1 year anniversary of my dad's diagnosis and the memories of the following 9 weeks are haunting...thinking about doing another PMC without him is devasting. BUT - he wouldn't want it any other way! TEAM PERRY REACHED ITS 10 MILLION DOLLAR MILESTONE last year and I know he was cheering us all on! But, we still have so much work to do! So it is time to power through!

I am thrilled to report that my brother-in-law (Josh's brother) is beating back the cancer! Last year when I created this post he had just been rediagnosed with Renal Cell Carcinoma after being cancer free for 20 years. After a few attempts to find the right treatment, he has seen the shrinking and stabilizing of tumors with a daily dose of oral chemo. We are grateful and hopeful he is on the right path to remission.

If you have supported me in the past...you probably don't need to read any further. If you haven't - here is my story and how I got on this journey and why I remain so committed to the cause. As many of you know, my first husband Perry passed away in 1999 after a short battle with cancer of the small bowel. It is hard to believe that it was 25 years ago, July 4th weekend that Perry and I sat in his hospital room to learn of his diagnosis - we were devastated. We had been married less than 2 years and he was the picture of health! We knew it would be a hard road but Perry was a fighter and we had every reason to believe he would beat it. Four months later, he was gone. It is still unthinkable that Perry, a marathon runner and tri-athlete, lost his life at the age of 32.

Perry gave me some very special and significant gifts during his life and with his passing. First, he gave me his love and when you are loved you can do ANYTHING! Second, he gave me his incredible spirit of competition and drive and this has transcended all aspects of my life. Third, he gave me permission to love again, and this has obviously meant everything to me and my family. And finally, he gave me my second full-time job and a personal mission to play a role in the fight against this terrible disease! I take this job and mission VERY seriously and without losing Perry, I would not be leading this team that has contributed more than 10 Million Dollars to cancer reasearch.

My capacity to love and be loved only grew with Perry's passing and I could not do any of this without the love and support of my husband Josh (and our kids Max and Ryan). It is no small feat to manage a team of 50-70 riders who raise hundreds of thousands of dollars a year. Josh not only allows me the time to coordinate the troops and go on the much needed training rides but he also understands my passion to try and make a difference. Words cannot express my love and gratitude for his support - he is an incredible man, husband and father.

This year, Team Perry will once again be paired with a Pedal Partner. Reina is a beautiful 16-year-old young womanl who became a master chef and baker during her months at home during the pandemic! She became our Pedal Partner in 2018 after being diagnosed with B-cell ALL, a form of childhood leukemia. After battling for 2 years Reina was in remission for almost 2 years but sadly the cancer came back in 2021. Our team supported Reina as she underwent a bone marrow transplant which forced her back into strict quarantine for 6 months! Finally, she has the all clear! Over 2 years since her transplant and she is cancer free. Reina's family is so grateful to be part of the PMC family and to have been paired with Team Perry - and I think, what do we do? we just pedal our bikes. But then I think of how those pedal strokes translate to dollars, and how those dollars have funded and will continue to fund the salaries of some incredibly brilliant Fellows who've made enormous contributions to the research and treatment at Dana-Farber.

We have supported many amazing doctors over the past several years and in 2017 our 2005 Fellow was named the new Director of the Gastrointestincal Cancer Center at Dana Farber! If this isn't proof of how our fundraising has made a difference, I don't know what is!! Our 2024 fellow has proven to be just as impressive as his predecessors! Dr. Rishi Surana is a clinical investigator and translational researcher with a focus on how the tumor microenvironment influences outcomes and responses to various anti- cancer therapies. He sees patients with all types of gastrointestinal cancers, and he is deeply invested in their ongoing care.

Ok ... so here it comes. Please GIVE and please know that no amount is too small, I really mean that.

They've made it easy - click the Donate to My Ride button to the right and help us make a difference in the fight against cancer. If you would prefer to donate by check - please make it payable to PMC-Jimmy Fund and send it to my home at 33 Liberty Street, Natick, MA 01760.

Thank you!
Melissa

P.S. To learn more about our impact check us out at teamperrypmc.com