HEY: Remember last week when I asked for help with friend's cancer ride?

[WilliamPitt]

This was the blog post I made about it:

http://forum.truthout.org/blog/story/2005/4/5/195515/5949

A great, great many of you responded, and thanks to you, my friend is within an eyelash of having the money required. For comparison: Last year she had to work three jobs and give all her tip money to the fund, plus whatever she could get people to give, in order to raise enough to be able to participate.

You guys pretty much got her home all on your own, and you have my most sincere and heartfelt thanks.

Those of you who gave got the following email from her, but I'd like to share it with everyone else. Oh, psssst, there's still plenty of time to give. The blog post above has the instructions on how to do so.

===

Dear Sponsors,

Thanks to my friend William Pitt at Truth Out, I have received an overwhelming number of supporters for this year's Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. I obviously at this point don't need to convince you of the importance of this fund raising event, but I would like to take the time to thank all of you for making donations for my ride. I've included a few interesting facts about the ride as well as a brief account of my first year participating in this amazing event. It's incredible how cancer has affected so many lives and I am more than honored to be riding with all of your support.

The PMC is the single most successful athletic fundraising event in the United States, with the proceeds going directly to the Dana-Farber Foundation's Jimmy Fund. In it's 25 years, the PMC has raised $120 million for cancer research and treatment and as the single largest contributor, is responsible for 46 percent of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue. At the opening ceremony last year, I learned that the PMC gives more money to pediatric care and research than any other organization.

On the morning of Saturday, August 7th, 2004, I rolled off at dawn along with 4,000 other cyclists, embarking on a bike ride I will certainly never forget. Along the entire 113 mile ride, I was greeted by people lining the streets with signs of support, yelling "thank you", clapping and cheering, passing out water, blowing bubbles, and dressed in various costumes. Some cyclists rode in teams with pictures of their loved ones who had suffered from cancer pinned to their backs, while others rode along with cancer survivors. One rider has his child's baby shoe affixed to the top of helmet. I heart-breakingly rode by many large posters with pictures of the children currently at the Dana-Farber Foundation battling cancer.

The whole experience was so overwhelming, not to mention the difficulty of ride. After 7 long yet inspirational hours of riding, I completed the hilly 113 miles from the historic town of Sturbridge, MA to Bourne, MA at the base of Cape Cod. I think I cried all of miles 80-100.

Now with all those miles under my cycling belt, I am at it again. This year I am participating in the full two day ride from Sturbridge, MA to Provincetown, MA. Thanks again to all of you who are supporting me, and best of luck!

Kate S. Middleton

[WilliamPitt]

1. .

[Arugula Latte]

2. Great!

I must admit I did not contribute (tapped out after countless good causes and school fundraising activities), but I'm glad she is making it! Yay DU! :thumbsup:

[WilliamPitt]

3. .

[WilliamPitt]

4. .

[VOX]

5. Got the e-mail yesterday -- happy to support this *very* worthy cause.

Thanks, Will.

:kick: