Dear Friends,
This August, I am beyond excited to ride in the 45th annual Pan-Mass Challenge. It will be my seventeenth ride raising money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) with the members of Paul’s Posse. Again this year, I will ride as a former patient of Dana-Farber.
In May of 2019, I was diagnosed with a rare cancer, Leiomyosarcoma (LMS), a disease that affects smooth muscle and connective tissue. LMS is exactly the type of cancer that researchers and physicians at DFCI study and treat. I am fine and cancer-free.
Cancer is the emperor of all maladies. I am determined to fundraise knowing that a cycling event is a vital part of Dana-Farber’s annual research budget. One Dana-Farber oncologist told me that the hospital relies on these funds for vital cancer research and cannot continue to do so without our help. Click here to watch him explain DFCI’s mission:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mK8k3hOES8
Sadly, the number of people close to me affected by cancer grows, including three of my team members. I ride with them–and for them.
My friends VA, TH, KS, RA, and WC were diagnosed with leukemia, throat (2), breast, and prostate cancers, respectively. Three were treated successfully and two are currently under treatment. They join the list of people close to me affected by this insidious disease.
Please consider making a donation to the Pan-Mass Challenge. Every penny raised goes directly to research.
Click on a link to donate. No gift is too small.
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Just a month before my diagnosis, I was the kick-off speaker at my school’s Relay For Life event, an annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. My speech honored my beloved student, Fenov Pierre-Louis, who died at age 17 from brain cancer on July 18, 2018. I discussed his resilience, how he influenced me, his classmates, our community, and humanity. It was because of Fenov that I entered Dana-Farber with the attitude that I will defeat this disease, the emperor of all maladies.
Just a few days before my surgery, Judy’s mother, Barbara Feldstein, died of complications from Multiple Myeloma, a type of blood cancer. Eighteen years ago, Barbara lost the love of her life, Joel, to brain cancer. Within a few years of Joel’s death, his beloved sister Jean would be taken by cancer, too.Now you know why I ride in the PMC each year. My effort relies on your selfless generosity. No gift is too small.
Cancer’s ugly head would affect Judy and me. Here is only a partial list of why I ride:
Joel Feldstein—brain cancer; Barbara Feldstein—multiple myeloma; Paul Schaye–gastrointestinal stromal tumor; Katherine S--breast cancer; Perry B--multiple myeloma; Perry B, Jr.--chronic lymphocytic leukemia; CG--breast cancer; MK–breast cancer; Steve R—chronic lymphocytic leukemia; Mark H-- multiple myeloma; Jean Feldstein Beck—lung cancer; Robert C.—liver cancer; Richard D—prostate cancer; Fenov Pierre-Louis—brain cancer; Ramona B—ovarian cancer; John D—throat cancer; Kevin M—prostate cancer; Marilyn M—appendix cancer; Jay W—throat cancer; Bob W—esophageal cancer; Mike W—liver cancer; Stanley P--bladder cancer; RA–throat cancer; TH–throat cancer; TS–esophageal cancer; VA–leukemia.
Because of your support, people like my friend Paul Schaye are alive. Dr. George Demetri and the DFCI team found a successful treatment for a form of tumor called Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) by helping develop a drug called Gleevec. Dr. Demetri is on the same cycling/fundraising team as me. Gleevec continues to save lives. One hundred percent of the funds I raise is restricted to Dr. Demetri’s Sarcoma research.
Gratefully yours,
Paul Savage
