In the summer of 2012 the Wayland community lost Eric Chase (21) to his battle with Leukemia, and a few years later ago I extended my fundraising efforts in remembrance of my Aunt Alice (50), who passed following her battle with an exceptionally aggressive abdominal cancer. In the years since, the list of those whose fight we honor and memories we serve has grown ever longer, but our resolve has grown as well.

The magic of the PMC is in the urgency of its mission and the knowledge that every rider, every volunteer, and every donor share an all too common thread. The 10,000 people involved span all walks and creeds, but unite in the name of those who have fought, those who are fighting, and those whose fight is yet to come.

When Eric passed in the summer of 2012 after an all too brief fight with AML Leukemia, his father formed our little group in his memory, funneling all our donations toward the work of Doctors Stone and Ho, the two at the helm of the clinical trial he'd been part of.

In the ten years since, our motley crew of a dozen or so have raised nearly $900,000 and been fortunate to witness one of Doctor Stone's life-altering breakthroughs: the FDA approval of the first new AML drug in over 25 years. Cancer research is a phenomenally expensive endeavor, but it's empowering beyond explanation to know that our supporters can be directly credited (if even in a small way) with the development of a breakthrough that will expand the treatment options, outcomes, and quality of life for cancer pateints the world over.

The PMC will raise more than 66 million dollars this year, every penny of which goes toward lifesaving cancer research. In the now 40 years of the organization's mission, they've raised over $600m and are Dana Farber's single largest contributor, representing 55% of their operating budget.

Of the myriad challenges of cancer research, it's not a battle against one illness, but a war against more than 400 individual diseases waged simultaneously. Doctors and researchers place bets decades in the making to ensure the greatest possible impact of their work.

To borrow a Warren Buffett quote, we're sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago and while the PMC has made stunning progress we need your help to keep planting more trees.

Wish us luck, dry weather, and please support a rider (any rider) if you haven't already because a bike can't go anywhere without its rider and we can't go anywhere without you.