For the past 6 years, Team Brielle’s Brigade and I have participated in the Pan-Mass Challenge in honor and memory of our many friends and family members that have been impacted by cancer. On the eve of our 2011 ride, our mission took on new meaning.  Brielle, our team namesake, has valiantly been fighting cancer for the last 8 years.  With the help of her sister Jaclyn and many others, she successfully beat Leukemia twice.   Well, on that early August evening, as we were finishing our pre-ride team dinner, we got the news that Brielle and her family had been informed about yet another challenge.

The cancer was back, and this time in the form of Osteosarcoma, a bone tumor that usually develops during the period of rapid growth that occurs in adolescence, as a teenager matures into an adult.  At the time of the diagnosis, the cancer had also spread to her lungs.  At this point, Brielle and her family turned to the great doctors at The Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Thus far, in her true fighter’s spirit, Brielle and her doctors have set out on a new course to beat this terrible disease again.  Two major surgeries have been performed, one to remove the tumor (which was 95% dead after the series of aggressive chemotherapy Brielle had received) and one to remove the Cancer that had formed in both of her lungs.  Brielle still has a number of chemo treatments left in front of her, but through her passion for life and her amazing spirit, she is “Not Afraid” to triumph over cancer yet again.

As Osteosarcoma is a fairly rare form of Cancer, with only 600 new cases diagnosed per year, the disease receives very little funding for new research and treatments.  That is why Team Brielle’s Brigade will dedicate this year’s ride, our 7^th, to the fight against Osteosarcoma.  We will direct every dollar we raise to Dana Farber’s ongoing Osteosarcoma research program.  To date, with the help of our many great supporters, we have raised $600,000 for The Jimmy Fund.  We would appreciate your support as we strive to surpass $750,000.

There is something very special about PMC weekend and mere words simply can’t paint the full picture. The act of selfless volunteering is amazing and it still rings true for the PMC, Team Brielle’s Brigade and our great network of friends and family who have been supporting us from day one.  This unbridled generosity is a sight to see and has become a source of inspiration.  However, our ultimate inspiration continues to be Brielle, her family and the many other families we know and love who have battled this disease. So once again this year, we’ll train and, more importantly, raise money so we can one day say we were a small part of finding the cure.

Thank you for your continued support!!!!