Registered riders for the 2009 PMC recently received this note from the Edward J. Benz Jr., MD, the President of Dana Farber Cancer Institute:
With the return of spring and the arrival of good bicycling weather, I want to thank you for registering to ride in this year’s PMC.
The economic downturn has added new constraints on doctors and scientists working to improve cancer therapy and care, making the dollars you raise for Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund more important than ever. In difficult financial times, the needs of cancer patients – for better therapies and personal, attentive care – do not diminish. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is as committed as ever to delivering the care and making the scientific breakthroughs that improve the lives of patients and their families.
Research advances over the past decade have brought powerful new treatments within reach, based on an understanding of the molecular nature of cancer and the body’s response to it. For example, Dana-Farber investigators have recently discovered an array of genes linked to lung cancer and pinpointed a protein that triggers the self-destruct mechanism of cancer cells. They have identified a protein “biomarker” that indicates the presence of a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer and are showing how tumors’ genetic “signatures” can guide therapy for individual patients.
Perhaps the most visible evidence of our commitment to reduce cancer’s burden is the construction of the Yawkey Center for Cancer Care on Brookline Avenue. Opening in 2011, it is the futures home of Dana-Farber’s adult care clinics as well as a state-of-the-art center for clinical research. Appropriately, the building will be fronted by a beautiful PMC Plaza in recognition of all you and your fellow riders and supporters have done to help us get this far.
The advances of the past several years represent a vital down payment on future scientific gains. We owe it to patients and their loved ones to make the most of this moment in science and maintain, or even accelerate, our pace of research. That’s why your assistance is so critical. I know it’s hard to ask for support when there is so much poor economic news. But just like on the road, when the hills are ahead, now is the time to bear down and give it our best efforts. I, and all the faculty and staff at Dana-Farber, are extremely appreciative of your continued commitment to our shared purpose. Best wishes for a healthy and productive 2009 PMC.
The commitment of the Dana Farber to ending cancer’s toll is complete, unwavering, and never compromising and this message from Dr. Benz is another remind as to why Team Forza-G rides.
We Are Forza-G 