My mom was diagnosed with Lobular Breast Cancer in the fall of 2020 amidst the pandemic. She underwent surgery and five weeks of radiation all at Dana-Farber in Boston. She was grateful to be able to avoid chemotherapy. While this would have been part of a treatment plan, the results of a study released after her diagnosis validated she would not benefit from it. Research, trials and other studies like this are directly fueled by the money raised at PMC.
Her team of doctors patiently delivered all of the information and treatment and she is now 2.5 years cancer free! Unfortunately due to the pandemic, my dad, sister, and I were unable to go to a single appointment with her. She spent many hours inside the walls of Dana-Farber but she wasn’t alone - she had her team by her side.
I ride the PMC alongside my father to not only raise money and awareness for cancer research to hopefully help the path of treatment but to also give back to the doctors, nurses, and everyone else who made her cancer journey as smooth as possible. I was finally convinced to ride the PMC in 2023 and rode from Sturbridge to Provincetown. The ride was full of emotions, determination, and sadly, a flat tire at mile 16 on Saturday morning. Being a part of this year's fundraising milestone feels extremely inspirational because it shows the level of dedication that so many people have to finding a cure. I can not wait for PMC 2024 and the years ahead!