I'm a proud participant in the Pan-Mass Challenge - a bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country - to bring us Closer by the Mile to a cure for cancer.

I ride in memory of my wife's mother, Janet Newell who passed away in 2010 from acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and my former co-worker Michelle Dibona, who passed away this past year from acute myeloid leukemia (AML). I never got to know my wife's mother as she passed away well before we began dating but the impact she had is still noticeable in my every day life and with her family. Michelle was a physical therapist I met when my career first began as a rehab aide who helped guide my growth in the field. Her love for her family and her patients was astounding and inspiring.

I've volunteered as on-site Physical Therapy at the Wellesley Finish for the past 4 years and this year I'm gearing up to ride! There is no better organization to donate to if you care about battling cancer! 100 percent of every dollar I raise goes directly to Dana-Farber, meaning that your donation has a real impact!