I am honored, now for the fourth time, to be riding in this year's Pan Mass Challenge, a bike ride across Massachusetts that raises money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
This race continues to hold particular meaning for me: As you may know, I lost both of my grandfathers to cancer. The DFCI specifically is very important to my family.
As I ride, in addition to thinking of all the families currently fighting, I will be thinking about my grandfathers:
My father's father (and namesake) Robert David Biederman passed away on New Year's Day in 1983. He was 55. Though I never met him, my family has told me that he was an honest, kind and hard-working man who loved each of my parents very much. He was a source of strength, guidance and unwavering support to his family, friends and colleagues. Regardless of whatever I achieve in life and whatever happiness and joy is yet to come, having never met him will stand as one of the great and irreparable disappointments of my life. I will begin this ride just down the road from his childhood home in Brookline.
My mother's father (and my sister's namesake) Boris Duke passed away on September 8, 1990, the day before I turned four. He was 67. Though at that age I couldn't understand what was happening, I will never forget bringing him a carton of milk from the hospital cafeteria, and saying goodbye to him. I will forever remember how kind he and my grandmother were to me - the moments I spent with them in LA - at Disneyland, at McDonald's, playing with a hose on a hot day in the backyard of their house - were some of the happiest of my young life. That my sister never got to meet this great man causes me great sadness.
Only with the steadfast support of private individuals like us can institutions like Dana-Farber continue making progress towards eradicating this vicious and cruel disease. Families should not have to experience what mine and far too many others have - and, god willing, one day they will not. I hope that you will join me in racing to bring that day forth as soon as possible.
