Last year was my first year riding the Winter PMC at Fenway Park and it was such a successful fundraiser and weekend thanks to all my supporters along the way. Since this year will be my second year of riding, why not ride two sessions! Again, I will be riding with the GlowCycle team. GlowCycle has been a huge part of my life the last two years. I began riding at the studio when it opened in November of 2022 not only for my health and exercise but also as an outlet and stress reliever from the everyday stresses of life and my career. I immediately got hooked to spin class, the studio and the community that surrounded it that it lead me to becoming a spin and fitness instructor at the studio in June of 2023.

Throughout my life, Dana-Farber has been an important organization as they’ve helped many of my close family, to include my Babci, Aunt and cousin through their cancer battles. For many years throughout my childhood, I took part in a local fundraising bike ride called Katelynn’s Ride. It was in memory of an 11 year old, local girl who had lost her battle with cancer, all while I was riding in honor of my younger cousin who had been battling cancer in his early years of life. For years I was gratified to participate in a good cause and to be part of such an emotional and memorable event. It's been extremely important to myself and family to support, donate and give back to Dana Farber in many different ways. Winter PMC gives me the chance to combine two things that are very important in my life, exercise/spin and cancer research with Dana Farber.

For almost the last six months I've personally seen first hand, how dedicated, focused, caring and excelled Dana Farber is in cancer research and patient care. Every other Wednesday and some Fridays I've spent at Dana Farber with my mom as she receives treatment and care during her fight against cancer. In these six months new potential treatments have been researched and are currently being tested to help patients fight this particular cancer. Our doctor at Dana Farber has been nothing short of exceptional steering us through this battle, keeping us in the loop of new research, test trials, options and opportunities throughout. We can only assume that he and his two PAs see dozens and dozens and dozens of patients, yet everytime we meet with them, twice a month or more, they always take the time to listen, talk and care. We are never pushed in and out of the exam rooms, there's more conversation than just about cancer, the small things in life are always remembered by them and even after two weeks between appointments, we pick up conversations right where they left off. We have left nearly every doctors appointment at Dana Farber feeling like we're their only patient and case of the day, knowing there's been many before us and will be many after us. None of this would be possible to have if it wasn't for the fundraising that Dana Farber has received.

With that said, I am so honored to be part of a cause that raises funds and riding in the Winter Pan-Mass Challenge for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

This year I ride in honor of my mom, the absolute strongest person I know, as she tackles this damn cancer.
I also ride in memory of Seppe Struppa. Seppe is the son of a firefighter at Patrick's firehouse. Seppe, an 11 year old who recently passed after an extremely tough, 13 month long battle with diffuse midline glioma, brain cancer. Although I didn't personally have the honor of getting to know Seppe, many described him as the most loving and absolute kindest to all. Diffuse Midline Glioma is a fast growing tumor that arises in midline structures of the brain. DMGs are the second most common type of primary high grade brain tumors in children. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are treatments for DMG but unfortunately there is no curative treatment for this disease. Unfortunately, for my mom's cancer as well, there currently isn't a complete cure that has been discovered yet although in just the last year, a second chemotherapy regiment has become FDA approved and currently being used. For both cancers and many others, treatments, medications and cures are being researched and tested day in and day out at Dana Farber, only made possible through supporter donations.

The PMC Winter Cycle is a spoke in the wheel of the Pan-Mass Challenge's annual fundraising campaign, with 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar going to Dana-Farber. Since 1980, the PMC has raised over $1 billion for Dana-Farber.

Every donation makes a difference and is extremely appreciated! Please help me reach my goal in raising funds for an organization and cause that is near and dear to many, including myself.

I can also accept venmo donations if that’s easier, please subject it with “PMC donation” to @mcb510.

Thank you all for the support! Here's to another year riding the winter PMC and finding the cure to cancer.