Hello Friends and Family,

I am happy to announce I will participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge again! The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike ride that raises money for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Amazingly, 100% of every dollar raised goes straight to Dana Farber. Last year the PMC raised 69 million dollars for cancer research.

This year my goal this year is to have a larger impact on this event. To do so, Ryan and I will create our own team, hoping to get others involved in such a wonderful event. This team will be in memory of our mother, Cathy Mae Langan (Sgarzi) who passed away in 2004, after a long battle with breast cancer.

Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or haven't been on a bike for years, there’s a place for you in the PMC. Cyclists can choose to ride one or two days on routes ranging from 25 to 211 miles. Riders may ride on Saturday, Sunday, or both days.

If you are looking for other ways to get involved, please consider volunteering for the event. The PMC would not be possible without the thousands of dedicated volunteers who donate their time and energy to support the event during PMC weekend and throughout the year. By volunteering for the PMC, you transform your energy, compassion, and encouragement into furthering cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Volunteering sign-ups are now open https://secure.pmc.org/Volunteer

I'd love for you to join us and help make a difference. If you're interested, please let me know and I'll send you more details about the ride and how you can get involved.

Thanks for considering this invitation. I hope to see you on the ride!

__

Why I ride:

This year I will be riding in honor of a close friend of mine, Bret Cohen. On Tuesday, April 26th Bret was brought to the emergency room at Mass General Hospital here in Boston where he was quickly diagnosed with a brain tumor, glioblastoma. Glioblastoma is a type of brain cancer that is usually very aggressive and hard to treat. The tumor can grow quickly and spread to other parts of the brain, making it difficult to remove completely. Luckily, Bret was able to meet with a great group of neurologists and on Friday, April 29th bravely underwent a 7 hour brain surgery. We were thrilled to receive the news that his neurosurgeon was able to remove all of Bret’s tumor while maintaining the full function of his language center!

Over the last year, Bret has continued to receive various treatments and has been an absolute trooper through it all! Around the end of May, Bret received 6 weeks of radiation treatment. The radiation was painless and at worst made Bret mildly tired. After his surgery and radiation, his next step was to receive a custom vaccine to help his own body combat glioblastoma by using information gained from specific characteristics of Bret's tumor. On September 8th, Bret received the first dose of his personalized NeoVax vaccine. Then on February 8th, Bret underwent his second brain surgery.

If you would like to continue to follow Brets story, here is the link to his caring bridge. https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bretcohen/journal

__

Bret,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for everything you've taught me over the years. Your guidance and support have been invaluable to me, and I am so grateful to have you in my life.

You have taught me so much about family, friendship and how to handle life, when life gets tough. Your wisdom and perspective have helped me navigate challenging moments in my life, and I am constantly inspired by your resilience and strength.

I am so grateful for all that you have done and for the endless love and support you have shown. I am so lucky to have you as a role model and mentor, and I will always look up to you with the utmost respect and admiration.

Thank you again for everything. I hope to make you proud and continue learning and growing with your guidance.

__

Bret is a true inspiration. Known for his relentless drive and determination, he is always striving to make a positive impact on those around him.

But Bret's dedication to helping others extends beyond just his professional pursuits. He is also deeply caring and giving, always putting others' needs before his own. Whether he’s helping someone in a time of need or simply offering a listening ear/conversation, to a friend. Bret is constantly looking for ways to make a difference.

With his boundless energy and kind heart, it's no wonder that Bret is admired and respected by so many. He embodies the values of care and generosity and is a shining example of what it means to be a selfless and compassionate individual.

__

Before I end this letter, I want to take a moment to recognize Adrienne Cohen, Brets wife. Being a caregiver for a loved one who has cancer can be a challenging and emotional experience. I want to recognize you for all the hard work and dedication you provide to Bret and everyone else during this difficult time.

From day one Adrienne has been by Brets side, supporting him and making sure all of his needs are met. Adrienne has gone out of her way to learn as much as she can about Brets diagnosis and the treatments he will receive. She has been with him at his appointments, working with his doctors to figure out what treatment is best. In addition to everything that has been going on in her life, she still finds a way to be an amazing mother to her twin, two-year-old girls, Blake and Forde. Adrienne has made this new life event as seamless as possible for her daughters and finds ways to make them the happiest children during some of the most difficult times. She has built such a strong mother-daughter relationship with her girls, built on love, trust, and quality time together. Oh… and if that's not enough, she is currently training for the Boston Marathon! BEAST!

Adrienne - I’m not sure how you do it all, but know, we are all very thankful for you!!

Thank you for reading,

Mike