I won’t lie to you.  I enjoy riding.  It’s no major sacrifice for me to participate in the PMC.  It is an honor though to be a part of something that has become such an integral part of Dana Farber’s funding. 

The route is lined with people cheering and thanking the riders.  There are numerous children holding signs with messages like, “Thanks to you I’m alive today.”  Riding with a lump in your throat is something one gets used to.

My dad died in 1997 at the age of 68, from melanoma (skin cancer) that spread to his lungs, brain, and liver.  His was not a story of long, drawn-out, agonizing pain.  It was two years from his initial diagnosis to when he died, but he led a normal life most of that time, only missing 3 weeks at the office before he died.  I feel fortunate that he went quickly. 

Others are not so fortunate,but Dana Farber makes life for them and their families as bearable as possible.    

TEAM DRAGONFLY

A couple of years ago, Jen Haan, a friend from Acton whose kids attend school with mine, died of sarcoma.  From diagnosis to her passing was a painful eight months.  She's left behind a husband, four children and a legacy of generosity and philanthropy.  
It's only fitting that a group of her friends in 2008 banded together as "Team Dragonfly" (she loved dragonflies) for the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) in her memory.  It would be a Herculean effort to try to match the good that Jen brought to the world while she was alive, but nevertheless, through participating in the PMC, we can continue her spirit of giving into the future.

Team Dragonfly’s funds are earmarked for sarcoma research through DFCI.  Sarcoma is the type of cancer Jen had and to date is not as well studied and understood as others.