This August, I will be biking in my eighth Pan-Mass Challenge. I originally started biking in honor of my father, who passed from cancer the year after my first ride, after living bravely with cancer for 8 years. Now, I have been biking in the PMC for as long as my Dad fought cancer. To date, I have raised over $60k for cancer research - because of you!! This year I am selling t-shirts - to hopefully give my supporters a way to represent to PMC!

Over the past few years, riding in the PMC has grown even more important to me, as I have worked at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, a camp for children living with serious illnesses, many of whom have cancer. The children I have cared for and met as a nurse and counselor, and the friends I have made here, mean the world to me. Pediatric cancer is the lowest-funded type of cancer, with only 4% of federal funding going towards pediatric cancer research. I ride each year for my campers, fellow staff members, and all of the folks I have grown to love so dearly at camp.

My family unfortunately has been impacted by cancer in many ways. In 2018, my uncle Mike passed after bravely fighting cancer. He was the best Uncle and I miss him dearly. Before I was born, my grandfather, Joseph Coughlan, passed from leukemia. I ride in the PMC, not only in memory of my father, but also in memory of my uncle and grandfather.

Each mile that I ride will be dedicated to my loved ones who have fought cancer. I hope that someday, a cure for cancer is found and no other family ever has to go through what my family has been through.

Please consider buying a t-shirt to support my ride. Thank you so much!!