Happy Very Hot Summer. I am riding 164 miles in my 8th PMC this summer. My headline is that I am striving to raise $30,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It's a big goal.

I am leading off my fundraising this summer with a Top Three List that answers the question “Why donate again this year?”

1. Your donation makes a significant impact on the lives of patients.

Many of you knew my best friend, Patti. She loved ice cream (chocolate-based ONLY), the beach (yet not a big fan of going in the water), cupcakes (she bought her NYC apartment based on “PTC”- “proximity to cupcakes”), non-negotiable morning coffee, and dogs Bruno and Wiley (hers and ours, respectively). Patti was known in our family for her game-changer New Year’s Resolutions. My favorite was “Eat more meatballs” circa 2018.

Patti lost her hard-fought battle with lung cancer in December, and she was a Dana-Farber patient. I accompanied her to nearly all her visits to Dana-Farber throughout her 3.5-year battle. I can assure you that the care she received was the best in class, compassionate, and cutting-edge. Notably, the research for the drug that helped to extend Patti’s life was conducted at Farber.

2. Regardless of your politics, I think we can all agree that fighting cancer is an important cause.

Billy Starr, Founder and Chairman of the PMC, shared the following comments at a recent event to address the proposed cuts to the NIH.

“The negative impact to Dana-Farber could be $50 million, and as much as $200 million over the next four years. He continued, NIH grants fuel the science that saves lives. These funds do not sit in an endowment; they’re at work in the labs and clinics of the Longwood Medical Area. Losing those funds and/or the people who utilize them means stalling progress. Risking jobs. Slowing the momentum in our fight against cancer. This is not politics. This is personal. Because when federal support is under attack, patients are the ones who pay the price. That is why what you do – what we do – matters more than ever. We are the largest single contributor to Dana-Farber. And when others may pump the brakes, the PMC community needs to accelerate”.

3. 100% of PMC donor funds support cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Your funds directly impact Dana Farber’s work.

Due to life’s circumstances, my training season is short this year. In an effort to catch up to my training goal, I am riding 100 miles a week for the four weeks leading up to the PMC. I have been processing a lot of big memories while on the road in the wee hours of the morning and my bum hurts. But I am hopeful. I know this group can make an impact. Let’s take a stand and raise a ton of money in Patti’s memory and keep our foot on the gas for funding for Dana-Farber.

Please donate if you can

Bring it on.

With BIG Gratitude and Love,

Pam