Dear family and friends,

I am so pleased to ride this year's Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) again for Team Beans, named in memory of Francesca "Beans" Kaczynski, an exhuberant little girl who has inspired more than 20,000 donors to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's new Team Beans Infant Brain Tumor Program. After Francesca died on Christmas Eve, 2020 at age 9 months, an outpouring of grassroots support through the PMC became the catalyst for creating this program. Though childhood brain cancer is the number one cause of death by disease in children, funding to date has fallen far short of the need. The funding to date of $2.8 million from the PMC, Boston Marathon and other fundraisers has given researchers a jump start in developing new medications to treat infant brain cancers and minimize the side effects of treatment. This year, we want to build on that momentum.

This year, I've made a few accommodations and will be riding 85 miles over three days. I completed two 30-mile rides on the Cape Cod Rail Trail this past weekend and will ride another 25 miles on Sunday as part of the offcial event.

I would be honored and grateful to have your support for this remarkable event!

Nancy