To my friends and family, 

I'm excited to announce I will be riding in my 5th Pan Mass Challenge this year!

According to the National Cancer Institute, an average of 40.5% of all Americans will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Most of us have been directly affected by cancer, in one way or another.

Over the past few years, I have been lucky enough to participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge with my family and friends. I rode my most recent PMC in 2022, in which I rode the 192-mile route from Sturbridge to P-Town. The ride itself was emotional, incredible, and one of my favorite experiences of my life so far. It was also the 3rd hottest PMC in history. If you know me, you know I have a history of heat intolerance.

2 hours after I crossed the finish line, I knew something was seriously wrong. I was extremely dizzy, nauseous, and felt weaker than I ever have in my life - nothing like I've ever felt after a long bike ride. I ended up in the emergency room with a diagnosis consistent with Rhabdomyolysis, a disease in which my skeletal muscles were damaged and actively breaking down. This was most likely caused by heat intolerance/exhaustion and excessive exercise mixed together (the doctor called it the "perfect storm"). I was out of work for weeks, and could barely stand for about a week. I went through 7 IV bags in 2 days. It took me about 6-8 months to fully recover from the symptoms. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to go through in my life, and I could not be more grateful for the love and support that surrounded me during that time. 

I share this story because we all go through really hard things in life. This experience in particular made me realize how frustrating it is to feel helpless. I was lucky to be able to recover quickly, and not have any life-changing complications. Individuals with cancer have a battle that I cannot begin to imagine. The chemo, radiation, doctor appointments, missing social events, not feeling up to anything, I mean, need I say more? Even in remission, individuals with cancer have to worry if it may come back. Some individuals with cancer are left with lifelong complications from their treatments. With potential funding cuts to the National Institute of Health on the line, it is more important than ever to raise money to fill the potential gaps in research funding. 

This year, I will be riding PMC day 2, from Mass Maritime Academy to P-Town, alongside my husband Connor, my parents, my best friend Ina, and the rest of the amazing Nashua Rides for Hope team.  This is not a small endeavor, as each rider must raise a total of $6,000. I continue to ride for our loved ones affected by cancer. I ride for Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Because of their medical team, my grandmother is now in remission for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

If you are able, please help us in the fight against cancer and consider donating, as 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Let's kick cancer's butt together! Thank you!