TL;DR:

This August, I am riding my bike 168 miles from Wellesley to Provincetown for a FOURTH time to raise money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund. I continue to ride in memory of my aunt Betty, in support of the amazing research being done at DFCI, and in honor of all those who have been and continue to be affected by cancer. I need YOUR help once again to meet this wild fundraising goal. Give what you can!

The Facts:

• The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is an annual bike-a-thon that has raised more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country.

• In its 39 years, the PMC has raised $654 million for adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) through the Jimmy Fund.

• PMC generates more than 50% of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue and it is Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor.

• This is possible because 100% OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION goes directly to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute & The Jimmy Fund:

The mission of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is to provide expert, compassionate care to children and adults with cancer while advancing the understanding, diagnosis, treatment, cure, and prevention of cancer and related diseases. Dana-Farber’s model combines clinical care, ground-breaking research, education of the next generation of physicians and researchers, and community outreach to eradicate cancer, AIDS, and related diseases, the fear they engender, and the effects they have on our lives, our community, and our world.

The Jimmy Fund solely supports Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research since 1948.

My Story:

My family has been involved with Pan Mass for several years and I continue to feel deeply honored to join them in support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund, and in memory of my aunt, Betty Katz. My first three rides with PMC were such moving, memorable experiences - I am ecstatic to be able to ride it again!

Betty was a patient at DFCI, so our family saw first-hand the results of the PMC fundraising efforts in the care she received in the numerous clinical trial drugs that were developed as a direct result of fundraising efforts like the PMC, and in the hereditary cancer research being performed on the genetic mutation that she and I share.

Cancer has affected all of us in profound ways. Your donation will bring us one step closer to improving care and treatment for our loved ones, increasing our knowledge about early detection and prevention, and ultimately, eradicating this awful disease.

**Please, please, please contact your company’s HR department to see if they match PMC donations. This is an easy way to DOUBLE YOUR DONATION! According to PMC.org:

Most companies have an online matching system while others use paper forms. The match will be credited to your fundraising as soon as we confirm that the underlying donation has been made. The matching form should be sent in with the donation (if made by check) or receipt from online donation. Donations that include matches should be sent to the PMC office:

77 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02494