It’s official! I’m registered for the 46th annual Pan-Mass Challenge to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I will be joining 10,000 cyclists and volunteers on August 2nd and 3rd and riding almost 200 miles across Massachusetts to raise money for cancer research and treatment.

100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The PMC has raised over $1 billion since 1980 and represents over 66% of The Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.

Why do I ride? Here are a few of my reasons:

1) Kym Herman-Peterson lost her fight in 2024 to Stage IV pancreatic cancer at age 52. Kym was a nurse who worked previously at MGH and Beth-Israel. She loved her role as a mentor and teacher also. Prior to nursing school, she was in the Peace Corps and helped build a clinic in Jamaica. She worked hard raising three children, being a wife and balancing this with furthering her education and working. She was an amazing woman. She was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer after complaining of abdominal pain. Pancreatic cancer is a known for being diagnosed frequently when it has already spread. She was optimistic and open to all types of treatment. Due to the advanced nature of her cancer, she was receiving chemotherapy on a regular schedule and doing well. She did not even look “sick”. In the spring of 2024, her pancreatic cancer had metastasized to her brain. She fought like hell but eventually the cancer won out and she passed away at MGH. Unfortunately, the options for pancreatic cancer (and many other cancers) remain limited. Much more research is needed, especially for cancers that spread to the brain and cerebrospinal fluid (leptomeningeal spread) like Kym’s cancer. She was a believer in miracles, medical research, and her healthcare team at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and MGH.
2) Bryan Cullion lost his brief fight with lung cancer last fall at age 42. Bryan was full of life, loved his family, sports, being with friends, good food and craft beer. He worked as a roofer and other than feeling run-down, had no other symptoms. One sunny day, he had a stroke while working outside at his home. He was hospitalized immediately and after many weeks of medical testing, was found to have an aggressive type of lung cancer that had metastasized to his heart and caused the stroke. Due to weakness and paralysis from his stroke, he was able to be home only briefly before he had yet another stroke. Bryan passed away before any cancer treatment could have been started despite his poor prognosis. He leaves behind his wife, Julie, who is a member of my staff and a three old daughter.
Lung cancer that has spread to the fluid around the lung and/or to the heart tends to be an advanced stage. About 2 out of 3 people with small cell lung cancer have extensive disease when their cancer is first found. Lung cancer (both small cell and non-small cell) is the second most common cancer in both men and women in the United States. Lung cancer is by far the leading cause of cancer death in the US, accounting for about 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Lung cancer mainly occurs in older people. Most people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older; a very small number of people diagnosed are younger than 45. The average age of people when diagnosed is about 70.
3) My dad, my aunt Carmel, my cousin Danny, my Uncle David, my friends Monica, Jessica, Tamara, and Trevor who have all been treated for various types of cancer and are cured or in remission. Also, for my grandmother who died of pancreatic cancer, my grandpa who died of lung cancer, Chris O’Neil, and many of my patients who have succumbed to oral cancer.

I’m riding almost 200 miles to help defeat cancer. Every dollar raised supports the research needed to find novel cures for cancers like Kym’s and Bryan’s. Sadly, sooner or later, cancer will touch you, your family, your friends, colleagues or neighbors. I’ll push myself to fund the warriors at Dana-Farber to give cancer victims more treatment options, more days, and more life.

Thank you for all your support and generosity. Let's ride for a cure! Many of us feel powerless when someone we love has a cancer diagnosis. Let's fund medical research and support the huge team of scientists, doctors, nurses and caregivers at Dana Farber. #strongerbythemile, #OneInABillion, #closerbythemile, #wegotthis, #PMC2025

Live fully, give love, help others and let's find a cure!
Peace, love, and endless gratitude,
Sara