Hi - I'm Peter McNamee. When I was little, it was a special event when my big brother, Jamie, came home for a visit. Jamie was ten years older than I, and he took his role as big brother seriously. He spent time with me; wrestling, fishing, fixing bikes, and more - basically teaching me about the world I was growing into. He helped me navigate the challenges of school, work, and in time - parenthood.

But at no time in our fifty four years together did he teach me more than in the last three.

Jamie was diagnosed with brain cancer in early 2012. Typical of him, he greeted the news with a wry smile and a joke. Three years later, he closed his eyes one night and quietly slipped away, leaving behind a hole that can't be filled.

But those three years were rich with lessons of love and of strength. Among Jamie's last lessons to me I learned that beyond cancer's impersonal ravages of the body, there is room for hope, and a healing of mind and spirit. Witnessing his struggle, I learned that in the face of this senseless and grasping disease, work is being done that will eventually END the brutality of cancer.

Till then, we make room for hope and for progress. To help fund that progress, I take part every August in the 192 mile bike-a-thon odyssey that is the PAN MASS CHALLENGE. Last year alone, the PMC raised $72 MILLION dollars for the Jimmy Fund - and every single rider-raised dollar went to cover research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute!

I know these people at Dana Farber. I watched as they cared for my brother. He knew their value and believed that some day they will crack the code and brush cancer aside. Please be a part of making that happen by donating to my ride. With your help I'm going to raise $10,000 this year to fund the search for a cure. Please help by joining my team of sponsors.

That's the summary. Hopefully I'll hold your attention 2 more minutes - the time it takes to click a button and and make a donation.

Lastly, THANK YOU for taking the time to learn my little piece of the story.

Peter McNamee