Life is to be lived and enjoyed.” Wendy Postlethwaite (1952-2025), wife, mom, teacher, advocate, creator, artist, and hi-tech business founder wrote these words while grappling with her diagnosis of Stage 4 Appendix cancer in Winter of 2022. Cancer of the appendix is incredibly rare – A one in a million jackpot that no one wants. Hidden on the appendix, the cancer grew silently for at least 10 years, with no symptoms until it spread to many of her organs. There was no way to remove the cancer that had spread so much. Everyone who knew and loved her were devastated – counting our expected remaining time with her in months.

What became Wendy's two-year battle with cancer ended this February. Since her diagnosis, she had fought each day on two fronts - fight the cancer and to live fully. Knowing no cure was possible, she has aimed to enjoy each day with a smile, and always cared more for other's than herself. In high times, she created mosaics, edited a political newsletter with thousands of subscribers, played with grandkids, attended weddings across the country, and sailed in Greece. The low times were fraught -- navigating hospital ERs, extended hospital stays, chemo deys, multiple surgeries, living with drainage tubes, getting nutrition overnight via IV, daily medication schedules, all while trying to exercise to stay strong. The peaks however, were so very good. With family she enjoyed walking through quiet woods, jumping into icy cold oceans, celebrating family birthdays, weddings and holidays, and getting in those long-delayed trips. Despite her own struggles she even rose to the challenge of caring for her husband during his second and third back surgeries, and being a 'cancer-buddy' to a best friend going through her own cancer.

Inspired by Wendy's fight and joy for life, Wendy's family and friends have formed the Wendy's Warriors PMC team to carry on in the fight against cancer. Led by her husband, Kevin Sullivan, a 20-year PMC rider (and he of the three back surgeries), the team has committed to this year's 2-day 190-mile+ PMC fundraising ride this August. Through the PMC, 100% of all the funds raised will be targeted to fight GI cancers through Dr. Ben Schlechter's Research Fund. 'Dr. Ben' was Wendy's oncologist and was her guiding light on her medical journey. Dr. Ben's expertise, compassion, honesty, and warmth and that of his team extended Wendy's life and the quality of that time far beyond anyone's expectations. Wendy could not have loved having, Ben, Adriane, and Nina on her side more than she did.

Two of Wendy's daughters, Amanda (PMC ride #1) and Rhyan (PMC ride #2), will join with Kevin and the other Wendy's Warriors to honor the true fighting spirit that Wendy embodied to the end to bring an end to cancer 'closer by the mile'.

100% of the donations to Wendy's Warriors PMC ride will go directly to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Dr. Ben's research in gastro-intestinal cancers, immunotherapies, and early detection. One day, with your help, there will be enough knowledge to catch and treat this type of cancer before its too late. If you would like join the Warriors fight and donate to cancer research, please click on the links on this page.

Wendy's personal journal and the blog of her journey was chronicled on the Caring Bridge site under her name: https://www.caringbridge.org/.../wendypostlethwaite/journal

Since its founding in 1980, PMC riders like us have raised more than $1 billion for lifesaving cancer research, treatment and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the country's top cancer care hospitals. The PMC is making a difference in the lives of patients at Dana-Farber and around the world. Please join us!

Kevin, Amanda, Rhyan, and all the other Wendy Warriors