Mel Stoler

9 Coolidge Street

Brookline, MA 02446

(617) 277-5180

With the PMC only a few weeks away, I’m late getting out my annual fundraising letter.  Besides procrastinating, when Karen found out last week that her annual mammogram warranted further imaging, I thought it best that I wait until we got the results.  The very good news is that the subsequent tests showed no cause for concern so now we can go back to being thankful for good health and business as usual.

Karen, besides breathing many sighs of relief, recently spent many hours working on our garden.  With the current heat wave and lack of rain, she’s been watering it daily, too!  For those of you in the neighborhood, stop by to have a look.  She has much of the summer off and will be spending a few days in NYC before the whole family travels to upstate New York for a weekend at her brother’s house along with Karen’s father.  We have a 3 night vacation in Stowe, VT later in the month that all of us are looking forward to.  Karen and I also booked a week long vacation in the Dominican Republic in March 2011 to celebrate our 25^th wedding anniversary. 

Adam graduated from Skidmore College in May and has been taking courses at Boston University Summer School this summer.  He double majored in Sociology and Psychology and minored in Spanish.  What comes next is anyone’s guess.  In the meantime he has a place to live and the love of his family (and dog) as constants while he thinks about his next work and/or learning opportunities.  (I guess it’s a good thing that we didn’t sell the house and move into a one-bedroom!)

Here are some pictures from Adam’s graduation and a video of him getting his diploma:

http://tinyurl.com/32puy56

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5P_4S35NIs

Ari finished his first year at the University of Rochester in May and took an introduction to number theory course at Boston University during the first summer term.  His interest in juggling, bicycling and ultimate Frisbee has taken the place of table tennis these days.  He’s hanging with friends for the rest of the summer and has the standing responsibility of walking Stewie in the afternoons.  Tough life . . .

I continue to donate platelets every other week at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.  I’ll hit the big 300 in October!  If you’d like to consider donating, please call 617-632-3206 to speak to one of the donor room staff about scheduling an appointment.  

As my schedule allows, I also continue to courier for the National Marrow Donor Program.  Since September last year I’ve traveled 20 times to pick up or deliver peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow cells.  I’ve been to the California three times, the DC area six times and a smattering of other US cities.  Five international trips have included Brescia and Milan, Italy and to Mannheim and Birkenfeld, Germany.  I also continue to volunteer one workday a month at the National Marrow Donor Program office at the DFCI.     

Nine years ago I rode a tandem solo in the Pan Mass Challenge in memory of our beloved cousin Steven Teitelbaum who died at the tragically young age of 15 from cancer.  Next year, on the 10^th anniversary of his passing, I would like to do it again. 

This year I have the opportunity to ride a tandem for a different reason.  Long time friend and PMC rider Barry Nelson was hit by a car while riding his bike a few weeks ago and will not be able to captain his tandem with his wife Linda.  Fortunately, Barry has been recovering well and will be able to ride his single bike.  I will take his seat on the tandem with Linda.  She and I have been training together and will hopefully even do the unofficial PMC 92 mile pre-ride from Stockbridge to Sturbridge the day before we begin the official two-day ride to Provincetown.  Fortunately my herniated disc that plagued me for much of last year seems to have resolved itself as I am pain free while riding, walking and sitting. 

The ride on August 7^th and 8^th will be my 23^rd year of fundraising and participation in the Pan Mass Challenge.  I am thankful that I can ride and that I can help raise money for such an important cause.  I am pleased to say that once again 100% of the money you donate will go to the Jimmy Fund of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute��"not many fundraising events can afford to do this. 

A few PMC facts:

In 2009, more than 5,000 riders and over 2,000 volunteers raised

$30,384,200. This total represented 100% of all funds raised.

Since 1980, the PMC has raised $270,000,000.

The PMC is the Dana Farber’s single largest contributor.

2010 PMC fundraising goal: for the event’s 31st year, $31,000,000.

I hope you will help me reach my minimum fundraising goal of $4,200.  For your convenience, you can donate online by clicking on the link below or pasting it in your browser:

https://www.pmc.org/egifts/default.asp?Add=MS0025

or by mailing me a check made out to “PMC-Jimmy Fund”.

If you work for a company that will match all or part of your donation, please refer to this page for more information:

http://www.pmc.org/fundraising.asp?topic=/tools/corpmatch

Any amount you’re willing to give will be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes for a wonderful summer!