Friends and family - this will be my seventh year riding and I'm looking forward to meeting more incredible people all gathered together for one common mission. That goal hasn't changed - raising life saving funds (in the form of the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute) to help defeat cancer.

This year, I again have the honor and privilege of riding with Team Kermit from Sturbridge to Provincetown. While I have only been on the team for four short years, this will be Team Kermit's 12th Pan-Mass Challenge as a group. This wonderful contingent of individuals was assembled when team captain Steven Branfman's son, Jared, tragically passed away from cancer. The funds that we raise as a group have helped advance research to make a once unmanageable form of cancer, now treatable. All money raised benefits the Jared Branfman Sunflowers for Life Fund for Pediatric Brain and Spinal Cancer Research at the Jimmy Fund. One hundred percent of your donation will go to finding a cure for this horrible disease - how many charities can say that?

I ride for all those who cannot. In memory of family members, friends and in honor of my dear co-worker who was battling cancer and can now say he successfully beat it with help from the life-savers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The ride isn't easy, but the fundraising is the real challenge.

In summary: while I thoroughly enjoy riding each year, I look forward to the day that my email inbox shows a message from Billy Starr stating that the ride has been cancelled due to cancer of all forms being cured. Please donate what you can and with your help, we can one day look back on the Pan-Mass Challenge as a ride that no longer has to take place. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your generosity and help.

Yours in health,

Ryan

Riding In Memory Of:

Nana B
Papa Joey
Nana Springer