On June 21st 1997, my sister, Michelle Wilder (Shelly), lost her life to lymphoma. She was just 33 years old. That day my life, and the lives of my two sisters, and our parents, changed forever. Since her passing tremendous progress has been made in treatments for blood and other types of cancer, largely due to institutions such as the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, whose tireless committment to finding a cure can only happen through the generous donations made by people like us. In an effort to play my small part in helping to find a cure for cancer, so that one day maybe we don't have to suffer the losses of our siblings, children or other loved ones to cancer, I am riding in this year's Pan Mass Challenge (PMC). I will ride in memory of my sister.

So on the first weekend in August, I will join over 6,000 cyclists in the PMC ride, an annual ride that raises money for research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. My ride will be just over 175 miles over 2 days, starting in Wellesley and finishing in Provincetown, and will help fund the exciting research for cures for lymphoma and other blood cancers.

The PMC raises more money for cancer research than any other single event in the country, over $972 million since 1980 and over $70 million last year alone. This success is the result of a lot of people riding for, and caring about, a cure. And because every penny matters, 100 percent of your donation goes to Dana Farber.