2025 marks my 3rd year as a Living Proof PMC rider and my 10 year cancerversary. By this point, most of you know my story and why being able to fundrais and ride means so much to me. Each year, this ride blows me away. The sheer number of riders, the super helpful volunteers, and your generous supprt as a donor; it all means so much to see such a strong force fighting a disease that affects too many.
For those that don't know my story, it started in 2005, when my mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Four years later, in 2009, my father was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. Then, in 2015, I was diagnosed with Testicular Cancer at the age of 26.
After seeing both of my parents fight cancer, I thought my family was done with needing to worry anymore. The constant hospital visits, surgeries, chemo infusions, radiation therapy, and doctors appointments had taken a heavy mental and physical toll on all of us. A week after my own diagnosis, I was in surgery to remove my tumor, but ultimately opted out of chemotherapy because of the effects itI saw it had on both my parents. Unfortunately, a few months later, signs of my cancer spreading cropped up and I inevitably had to undergo chemo.
9 weeks of multiple infusions per week, traveling in and out of Boston, and through it all, the staff at Dana-Farber made me and my family feel like they were there just for us. Through all of the questions, the needle poking, the tests, and the changes in my condition, their patience, attentiveness, and level of care never wavered. Dana-Farber's commitment to care is second to none, and their resources truly helped me and my family win our fights against cancer.
All of these years later, my mom, dad, and I are all Living Proof because of the doctors, nurses, and staff at DFCI and MGH.
I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it's leading a charge to beat cancer with 100% of rider fundraising being donated to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I'm excited to be a Living Proof rider that is 10 years cancer free because of the amazing team of doctors and nurses at Dana-Farber.
