As ever, there is so much to inspire us in this work. Too much, really. Team MFS has lost two amazing colleagues in recent years, Mike Pandolfi and Gary Lasman. Mike was an avid PMC rider and supporter. Gary was an equally amazing human being. I could never come close to properly recognizing their legacies in this medium, but suffice it to say, they provide far more inspiration than necessary to put some miles on a bike in the company of thousands of wonderful people.

We recently had another colleague make an amazing recovery and the two colleagues I told you about last year who were just beginning treatment are doing well with optimistic prognoses. This is just the MFS investment team, not to mention our many family and friends, including a number of you, who have been touched by this disease. Cancer keeps coming. On the other hand, Dana Farber, the PMC and Team MFS also keep coming. As the recent MFS colleague experience highlights, we’re making progress, but sadly we have a lot more progress to make.

Once again, I will be riding the 163-mile Wellesley to P-Town route with Team MFS riders. Last year was a milestone year as we fielded over 100 PMC riders for MFS’s 100th anniversary and the PMC surpassed $1 billion in cumulative fundraising since its inception. While there aren’t flashy milestones this year, there are just as many miles to ride and just as much work to do in the fight against cancer.

Every year, 100% of all funds raised from donors like you go directly to the Jimmy Fund (sponsorships from MFS and others pay for the overhead of the event and the operation). The PMC provides over 50% of the Jimmy Fund's annual budget and is Dana Farber's single largest contributor. The goal for this year's PMC is $76 million, which will be a new record. Since becoming an official sponsor in 1999, MFS has raised over $20.3 mil, including $1.4 mil in 2024. As we did last year, a number of us on Team MFS, including me, will be directing our funds to Dana Farber's Kidney Cancer team in support of Frank, the brother of our teammate and leader Maura. Other riders will be riding to support a fund Mike established before he passed. All of us will be riding for the common cause of fighting this miserable disease.

I appreciate that there are many worthy and noble causes that need your help today. I understand that supporting this cause might not make sense for you this year. If I can help you in any way, please let me know. Every little bit you can spare counts and no donation is too small. Thank you to those of you who have already donated to this year’s ride unsolicited! Thank you to those who can give now. This group’s generosity has been wildly inspirational. Thank you all so much!