Dear Friends,

With the Pan Mass Challenge just a few weeks away, I am starting to anticipate what it will mean to me in 2011. As the years go by, I increasingly realize the importance of these moments when one can reflect on the journey. The PMC has become for me a bracketed [space in time] when I hope for insight, even epiphany.  Each year I have ridden, the mental journey has entailed: 

• The privilege of healing
• The inspiration to keep pushing boundaries
• Gratefulness for those who help me stay the course

I am looking forward to the journey this August 6^th and 7^th.

The economic impact of the PMC on the ability of the DFCI to pursue mission is incredible. Last year, Owen and I (and friends Laurie Thomsen and Katherine Gross) joined a “team” within the PMC called “Pedal for Pediatrics”. The dollars that we raised (last year $250,000) go directly to pediatric causes within DFCI. The dollars are divided between the pragmatic, humanitarian, and esoteric causes. For instance, we sent aside a large sum to offer to parents of dying children who must chose between work, to pay the rent or the mortage, and being at the bedside. We routinely offer to cover a monthly payment or two, so that families can be together when time is limited. We also used the funds to inaugurate our new program in Global Pediatric Oncology. We are planning to set up 2-3 DFCI sponsored programs for children with cancer in low income countries, likely in South American and Africa. Funds from the PMC were used to investigate sites in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. And we set up a program to enhance options for future fertility of children being treated with cancer. New approaches to sperm and egg preservation mean that parents of children with cancer may not have to ask us in the future “will my child be able to have a child of his/her own?”.

 I hope you will support Owen and I again in this pursuit. We are hoping to hit “heavy hitter status” this year and with the money raised, mitigate the suffering associated with the word, cancer.….

Lindsay

http://www.pmc.org/profile/LF0070