Hello Friends and Family,

This will be my 3rd year riding in the PMC and Gerry's 10th. Yup, that's right, 10 years since Gerry received his final radiation treatment and was declared cancer free. Woohoo! It's a nail biting journey. Always thinking cancer is just lurking around the corner. We feel lucky everyday. Some are not so lucky...

This year we lost more loved ones to cancer. We have a family member and a close friend undergoing treatment right now. We just can't seem to get away from the C word. I don't like it. What I am grateful for are the amazing people that treat and care for my loved ones. Without them, the cancer world would be a much scarier place. When I would accompany my father-in-law to treatment at Dana Farber, I would often stop by the Jimmy Fund Clinic to say hi to our friend Lisa (the captain of this wonderful PMC Reindeer Team) and see the kids. Once again, I was humbled, just as I was every day I stepped foot in Dana Farber. Who are all these courageous people fighting this terrible fight? How are the children laughing and smiling and enjoying making crafts or getting a balloon from the balloon guy? They have bigger problems to contend with but Lisa and her team at the clinic try to make their time there as upbeat as possible and IT WORKS! The staff are amazing. They treat each patient with grace and dignity.

The Winter Festival, for which the Reindeer Team raisies money, is just another example of Lisa's magic in bringing smiles to the patients and their families. There is hope for families who often feel desperate. There is also the reality that this may be the last Christmas for some of these kids. To give even a moment of happiness, to bring a smile... means everything. The Winter Festival also includes a phenomenal party at the Newton Marriott for 800 families. I've volunteered at the party before and it rocks! The kids love it and it is wonderful to be a part of the magic. The Winter Festival would not be possible without your generosity, so again thank you for supporting Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund Clinic. I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last year 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.

I am stepping up my game this year - doing the 2 day ride to Provincetown Inn. With that comes a higher fundraising minimum of $4800, so I appreciate any amount you can give. Thanks for helping me to reach my goal of $4800 and by doing so, I hope we help another family to be as lucky as we are today. Hug a loved one. Life is too short.

Tracy