I am a two-time cancer survivor.  It’s not obvious now - I’m a healthy, strong 50-year old looking forward to my second year riding in the Pan Mass Challenge, a bicycling event that raises money for the Jimmy Fund of the Boston Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  

I doubt I’d be on this side of the ground now, fourteen years after my first diagnosis, if it weren’t for the loving support of my husband, family, faith, friends and colleagues.   I also credit the amazing Dana Farber program: doctors, coordinators and research, for saving my life.  I've been given the precious gift of more time with my husband and the chance to see my sons learn to drive, downhill ski race and attend the prom.  And now the Dana is giving me another gift:  a wonderful cause to inspire me and keep me active.  This year’s event will be REALLY cool because my husband and youngest son have decided to ride with me, and my entire immediate family is volunteering with me for rider bike repair assistance the first day of the “big" 190 mile event.   

The PMC “family” is 5,500 riders and 3,300 volunteers from 36 states, and this is the 33^rd year for the event.  In 2011, the Pan Mass Challenge raised $35 million for the Jimmy Fund from 240,000 donors, a record-setting amount for a single athletic fundraising event.  

Please support my 2012, 80-mile Pan Mass Challenge ride.  Together, we can beat cancer, and give others the same gift of time.  Most of all, I encourage YOU to take a moment and be thankful for the gift of THIS day in YOUR life!