I hope this note finds you well and managing through this difficult time. The pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives: from insecurity about food, housing or finances, to the emotional distress and challenges of daily living.

It has also affected most charities, including the PMC. This iconic event will NOT run as usual this year. Thousands of riders, volunteers, and supporters will miss the outpouring of energy and love of PMC weekend: the camaraderie of our teams, the thrill of cycling with friends along roads lined with cheering supporters, the sweaty, tearful, joyous hugs, and feelings of triumph, as we cross the finish line.

BUT the PMC has NOT been canceled this year. It is being re-imagined.

So…just how do we re-imagine an enormous event like the PMC? Some might bicycle a few miles around their neighborhoods. Others might go for a two-day, 200-mile ride somewhere in Massachusetts. I will be riding 65 miles on Sunday from Chatham to Provincetown with a small group, and I am committing myself to raise as much as I can to support all those fighting against cancer.

Why now? Why do this at a time when the pandemic demands so much of our attention?

Because cancer does not rest, cancer does not let up. Everyone reading this letter is one degree of separation from someone affected by cancer. But while cancer may not rest, neither do the researchers, caregivers, and patients who continue to fight to overcome it. Their need for financial support is more significant than ever this year.

I know that making a gift this year could be more challenging than usual. I understand. If you need to skip this year or perhaps give less than you have in the past, please know that I am grateful for any support.

I did my first Pan Mass Challenge last year. I had always wanted to try it, even though I didn’t own a bike at the time. I had admired that my brother-in-law, Hal Sizer, had ridden in it for 28 years and always talked about what a great experience it was. I also had always wanted to honor the memory of my sister-in-law Alyson who lost her battle with breast cancer.

So it became a sort of ‘bucket list’ item – as bad as that sounds. “One and done”, I said. And then I actually did the ride and met Cam. You see, I’m fortunate enough to have joined the team that Hal rides with and we were riding for one particular boy, Cam, who was our ‘pedal partner’. When you hit the last water stop on Day 1, as you are heading to Bourne, you get to meet your pedal partner and his family. What makes it so life-changing is that the entire last mile has posters of each of the pedal partners for whom the various teams ride.. There are FAR TOO MANY of these posters – with every kid cuter than the next – no joke. Each of these little kids was/is battling this horrible disease. One particular picture stood out to me – I swear to God – because he looked like the young little toe-head I had in my son Ben, who is now 19. The child in that picture turned out to be, coincidentally, Cam.

Cam was 4 at the time, the oldest of 3 children (yes, 3 kids under 4 years old) and was battling cancer. He still is a year later and we are riding for him again. Sadly, cancer doesn’t take the year off. Let's hope it's the last time we have to ride for Cam and his last time to go to Dana Farber. 

Thank you in advance for any support you can provide and enjoy the rest of your summer in good health!