I'm honored to be riding the PMC this year as a member of Team CTB- in honor of Charles Thomas Balzano. Charlie was diagnosed with cancer before he was born. He was delivered early to give chemotherapy the best chance of treating the malignant rhabdoid tumors found throughout his body and brain. Charlie underwent 5 months of intense chemotherapy with strength and perseverance- he smiled and laughed every day. Charlie battled valiantly- he passed away in his parents loving arms at Boston Children’s Hospital after an eight-month battle against cancer. I ride the PMC for him.

In honor of Charlie, and to help give other children battling cancer the very best chance the funding raised on Team CTB will be directed towards Pedals for Pediatrics and the doctors and nurses on the pediatric oncology floor where Charlie was treated.

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. Since its founding in 1980, PMC riders like me have raised more than $1 billion for lifesaving cancer research, treatment and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 100 percent of every dollar I raise goes directly to Dana-Farber, meaning that your donation has a real impact! Please donate to my PMC fundraising and help me reach my fundraising goal! 100 percent of every dollar I raise goes directly to Dana-Farber, meaning that your donation has a real impact!

During the countless hours I'll spend training and riding this summer I'll be thinking about Charlie and all of those who inspire me to do all I can to raise awareness and money for cancer research. I'll be thinking about those my family has lost to cancer: my Aunt Janet, my grandfather Carroll, my grandmother Mary, Jill's grandmother Helen. While my heart breaks for those we've lost, I'll also be motiviated by the beacons of hope in my life. I'll be thinking about loved ones who have benefited from the kind of cutting-edge cancer research done at Dana-Farber. I am so grateful that I have many amazing people still in my life because of successful treatment of cancer.

I am driven to ride by my grief, by love, and by hope. While I am saddened by the necessity of this research, I am intensely optimistic that contributions made to my fundraising goal will help those we love beat cancer in the future!

Please donate to my PMC fundraising and help me reach my fundraising goal.