I am riding the Pan Mass Challenge this year in memory of my Aunt Dottie. Dorothy Anne Rottkamp Gruenfelder was my Mom’s baby sister and best friend. She was also my surrogate mom and helped raise me and my three brothers. At 42, Dottie was diagnosed with leukemia. She survived EIGHT different kinds of cancer over the last 30 years of her life. She was the ever-ready Bunny and a superstar down at Sloan Kettering Memorial, titles she wore proudly if it meant living longer to see her daughters - Lisa and Christy - get married and start families of their own. Dottie loved, and lived, to watch her grandchildren grow up. I’m riding to raise money for cancer research so no one and no family in the not too distant future has to endure the pain, treatments, and heartache of cancer. I started training back in October for this 162-mile ride. I was strong and healthy until Holy Week hit and the scourge of wearing heels (!) for four days in a row blew out my already compromised left knee. Since April, my training has slowed as the pain has increased, but I am committed to riding however many miles I can on August 3 and 4. (And P.S. My knee replacement surgery is on August 7.) Thank you in advance for your support! 100% of money raised goes directly to cancer research. Dottie, give me your sense of humor and strength this weekend!