Dear Family & Friends,

Happy Summer! As I get ready to take part in my 7th Pan-Mass Challenge as a member of Team FLAMES, I would like to pause and reflect on how grateful I am to be able to take part. In 2017, remission from lymphoma signaled a new beginning for me. When I asked my oncologist and fellow FLAME, Dr. Ann LaCasce, what I could do to help Dana-Farber, she suggested I email captain JD Hale. I did, and as you know, the rest has been history. In six summers of riding, you have helped me raise over $77,000 for the FLAMES and PMC as we work together to help conquer cancer. In the short time I have been part of the team, new therapies have been discovered and treatments improved thanks to the life-saving work the doctors and scientists at Dana-Farber have been able to do - thanks to your crucial contributions.

As many of you know, this past spring, my commitment to take part was nearly cut off at the pass. I was reminded once again how suddenly life can turn in the blink of an eye. A bike crash on some wooded trails almost changed everything. While banged and scarred up, I came away incredibly lucky, and believe someone was watching over me that day. Aside from the nose, no bones were broken, which surely would have put a stop to taking part in my 7th PMC. Since the crash, I have been recovering quickly, and the moment I was given the go-ahead to get back on my bike, I did.

This year as I prepare for the PMC, I have a renewed sense of gratitude. I am reminded that life is a gift! And while I am grateful for my recovery, I am also full of hope for others. In addition to raising money to fund future cures and therapies for cancer, I ride to offer hope to everyone who is currently fighting. In addition to giving hope to others, I am also riding to honor the memory and legacy of those we have loved and lost to this disease. Each year since 2018, I have pinned a colorful list of names to my jersey: friends, family members, and friends of family members who have lost their battle with cancer, are in treatment now, or are in remission. If there is anyone in your life whose name you would like me to add to my jersey so that they will ride wiht me, please let me know who they are and tell me their story. I will ride for them, and if you are a survivor or going through treatment yourself, I will ride for you too!

While this year will be no different, there is a friend whose name I will be wearing with special pride this year. I am dedicating my 7th PMC ride to Barbara Wilson Arboleda, the wife of my dear friend Teja Arboleda, who through vigilance, early detection, and listening to her body, was able beat lung cancer before it spread too quickly. This is not the case for everyone, and I know Barbara considers herself incredibly fortunate. We must listen to our bodies, we must advocate for ourselves and for those we love.

Cancer continues to take lives, and I am asking for your help to find ways to end that. Please help me reach my personal goal of raising $12,000 this year. I am grateful for your donation, however big or small, and I’d like to sincerely thank you in advance for your thoughtfulness. I appreciate you taking the time to read this, and thank you for being part of my team!

Thank you for your continued love and support,

Michael

There are multiple ways to easily make a donation: credit card, Venmo, and check. If you prefer to write a check, please send that to me directly by making it payable to “PMC” and mailing to Michael Lawrence, 30 Inverness Road, Arlington MA 02476.

If your employer has a Matching Gift Program please contact your employer's HR Department and apply to do this ... it will make your donation go even further!!!