In 2024 there were 2,001,140 reported new diagnosis of cancer; almost everyone has been affected by this disease and understands the havoc that it wreaks in the individual's, their family and friend's lives. If you have not been touched by this disease, then I suppose you could stop reading now.
My mother died of cancer on October 1, 2024 from urothelial cancer. The few months prior to her death my mother suffered greatly, although she never complained and was “the best patient ever” as described by her nurses at the hospital and in hospice. I was blessed to be with my mother a lot in the weeks leading up to her passing and by her side at the time of her death at 3:05 pm on the 1st. During the two years leading up to this she fought and was treated for bladder and kidney cancer - which was thought to be successful. But as luck would have it early in 2024 the cancer had metastasized into her spice rupturing a couple vertebrae and she developed masses on her collar bone, in her stomach and lungs.
In 1978 we lost my maternal grandmother to colon cancer. In 1984 we lost my maternal grandfather to lung cancer. In 2003 my business partner lost his father to malignant melanoma. The summer of 2020 my uncle Jimmy lost his battle with esophageal cancer. June 1st of 2021 my father lost his battle with esophageal and liver cancer after we watched him waste away to a shell of the man we knew. In November of 2022 my sister-in-law lost her father to his battle leukemia after a long and courageous fight. On February 25th 2023 my father in law was taken from us after a swift and horrific attack by leukemia.
The spring of 2004 I was asked to participate in the Pan Mass Challenge and help raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston Massachusetts. To help aid in the fight against the terrible disease cancer that impacts each and every one of us in some way, shape or form.
DCFI is a world leader in adult and pediatric cancer research and treatment. Since 1947 they have been committed to providing adults and children with cancer the best treatment available today while developing tomorrow’s cures through cutting edge research.
The PMC is a bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. The PMC donates 100% of every rider raised dollar directly to Dana Farber and is the institute’s single largest contributor annually, raising more than 54 percent of the institute’s annual revenue. In 2023 we donated seventy two million dollars.
This will be my eleventh year cycling with the Boston Bruins Foundation Team and my twenty first year peddling across Massachusetts to help support research at DFCI through the Jimmy Fund. Any support you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!!
