My brother-in-law Mario Travers fought pancreatic cancer over the last year and a half and passed away at 51-years young this past August right before this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge. Mario had planned to volunteer at this years’ PMC, no matter what condition he was in, to help others with cancer and support the healthcare workers who embark on the fight with their patients. Mario was my truly my brother. He was the electric guitar rockstar, who introduced me to ice hockey at age 6, would play video games in his 40’s, and injected an unrelenting fandom of all things Boston Sports into my veins. For those who met him, his passionate love of music, art, food, the Bruins, and really just life drew people together. His stories were legendary, and so was his laugh. We will miss him forever and keep his story alive.
Having spent most of my professional career in gastrointestinal (GI) healthcare, Mario getting pancreatic cancer hits a bit too close to home. There was no rhyme or reason for him to get it. He fought ferociously and bravely. The level of care he received from his medical team in Boston was the inspiration to his fight. He was determined to recover not only for himself, but also for those who fought alongside him.
As one small step in keeping Mario’s memory, spirit, and commitment to help those fighting against cancer alive, I will be riding in the 2023 Pan-Mass Challenge. I’ll be riding alongside other family members and friends on Team M.T.Please help me continue Mario’s fight by donating any money you can to support Team M.T. and help find a cure for cancer.
PMC is an annual bike-a-thon that raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment development through the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We ride across Massachusetts with common goal of providing doctors and researchers with resources to discover new cures for all cancers. Friends, please join me in making a difference in Mario’s memory by supporting a great cause. Thank you all in advance for making any contribution you can. It means the world to me.
