PMC 2011- We're still fighting cancer....hard

http://www.pmc.org/egifts/EK0035
PMC ID: EK0035

Why ride a bike to fight cancer? Because it helps.

If you want to stop reading, just go straight to www.pmc.org/egifts/EK0035, donate and we'll call it good. If you want the narration, here you go:

As it has for the past six years, the first weekend in August 2011 will find me pedaling my bicycle across Massachusetts to help find a cure for cancer. The Pan-Mass Challenge raises funds for treatment and research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. What started back in 1980 as an event for extreme athletes is now a weekend of heart and soul for a large, diverse group committed to raising the vital funds required to battle the scourge of cancer. The only thing extreme about us now is the breadth of our reach — with riders from 36 states, six countries and all walks of life. And for one weekend in August we come together as family, made powerful by our common cause. Over the past four years the PMC gift to Dana-Farber has averaged almost $33 million a year, with 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar going directly to cancer treatment and research. This year's two-day event goal is $34 million. 

But this year will be different. This year I will be riding for Hannah.

Hannah is 8 years old and likes to write and draw. Last November she was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). Hannah's ALL is the Philadelphia variant, making it even tougher to battle. But the good news is that Hannah's little sister, Fiona, was a perfect match for a bone marrow transplant. Fiona is 6 years old. Talk about brave....The current cutting edge treatments for this disease also show what a difference the sort of research that PMC supports can make.  Just a few years ago the long term survival rate for children with Philadelphia+ ALL was less than 50%, even with a bone marrow transplant. With new drug therapy, it's about 80%. 

I know that I'm extremely lucky to be able to ride my bike to help Hannah, our Pedal Partner (http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hannahhughes). And to help Frank, who was just recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is being treated at Dana Farber. Frank is a 27-year PMC volunteer and the father of FOUR of my PMC teammates. And to help Bruce who, in spite of being diagnosed with a difficult lymphoma for the THIRD time, rode a double century last weekend.

I also know that I'm lucky to have people in my life like you to ask for help. So I'm asking. Please help. Donate whatever you can. Cash. Good thoughts. More cash. I'll keep asking you to give until we're done. We'll be done when there is

NO MORE CANCER.

http://www.pmc.org/egifts/EK0035
PMC ID: EK0035

Thank you so much.

Ellen
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