Dear Family and Friends,

As we all know, 2020 was a year of challenges for all of us on so many fronts. I hope that all of you are healthy, safe, and starting to emerge into the post-pandemic world.

PMC 2021 is a very personal and meaningful one for me for two reasons: 1) It marks my twentieth PMC (!) which is roughly one-third of my time on the planet. 2) It is the first PMC that I will be riding as Valentina Danielle Rosa. As many of you know, I've been on a journey to live as my true, authentic self for over six years. My legal name change was approved by the local probate court at the end of April. It was a time of celebration amidst so many challenges.

PMC 2021 brings with it a host of other challenges. This photo is with Declan Vail aka Declan the Younger, one of Team Kermit's Pedal Partners, his Dad Jeremy, and me in 2019. I thought about adding a new profile photo but I didn't. I want to honor Declan. He's had a very challenging year with a very risky brain surgery done in the spring that was hoping to reduce the number of seizures he'd been having. The results were very promising for a little while but his brain cancer has come roaring back and he's now having many seizures each day. And he just turned 4 years old a few month ago.

Despite all of these challenges Declan has so much genuine and authentic love to give. To be with him is to fully present, to understand the pure happiness of his being, his smile, his laughter, and his unadulterated joy. Team Kermit has been doing everything we can to fund Declan's treatments which sadly need to be continued and increased.

I'm committed to raising $3,000 for the PMC this year to support the life-saving work at the Dana Farber and The Jimmy Fund for Declan and other pediatric cancer patients like him through the Jared P. Branfman Sunflowers For Life fund. A small group of Kermits and I will be riding on PMC weekend up and over Wachuset Mountain in central Massachusetts on August 7. The ride up the access road is steep and long, and the ride up the service road to the summit undulates until the last 150 yards peek at a 15-18% grade. It's not a ride for the timid but nothing compared to the life-threatening challenges that some of us face like Declan. I would gratefully and lovingly accept any gift no matter the size.

Please donate whatever you can by clicking the DONATE button here and following the steps. Or send a check to me payable to The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute and mail it to 383 School Street, Watertown, MA 02472.

With love, warm hugs, and great thanks,

Valentina xoxo