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.

So many of us have felt the impact of cancer in our lives or the lives of those we love. I've personally had five family members battle cancer. Both my grandmothers braved breast cancer, one grandfather overcame colon cancer, the other fought prostate cancer, and my uncle triumphed over Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. My family and I all feel so fortunate that they endured successful treatments made possible by the diligent cancer research efforts that continue to further care available today.

On August 2 & 3, I will bike 162 miles from Wellesley to Provincetown Monument in the Pan-Mass challenge. While studying at Rice University, I first found and fostered my love of cycling. I went from my first time clipping in on a road bike to later becoming a bike team captain and event coordinator for Rice's annual bike relay race, known as Beer Bike.

As an event coordinator, I helped lead my residential college in raising $2,000 over 24 hours for an alumni-run nonprofit, the Triumph Over Kid Cancer Foundation, in support of pediatric cancer research. With PMC, I am so overjoyed to again have the opportunity to support an important cause through my love of cycling. As I train and participate, I am inspired by the personal resilience and strength of my family members, all cancer patients, and the loving cheerleaders behind them.

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, one of the country's top cancer care hospitals. 100% of all funds donatated go directly to Dana-Farber to support the innovative work of doctors, nurses, and scientists in their search for cures for cancers and related diseases. If you are able to contribute, I would be so appreciative of any donations to help me reach my PMC fundraising goal.

Thank you in advance for all you do to support me, including your kind messages and well wishes! And thank you for everything big and small you've poured into the larger fight against cancer, however it has impacted your life. Finally, for good measure, Fuck. Cancer. Let's do this!