Dear Friends and Family,

Each time I return to my hometown of Hanover, NH, I look forward to visiting my mother and, if I’m lucky, heading out on my favorite bike route north along Rt. 10 up through Orford, looping back along the Connecticut River. Over the years, I’ve seen sign after sign for The Prouty Ride for Cancer, yet never quite made the leap to join. This past weekend, after another beautiful ride, something clicked—I decided it’s time to show up for the cause and put my riding to good use.

So, I’m stepping up.

This weekend, I’ll be riding 100 miles with my daughter Meg to support cancer research and patient care in the Upper Valley community I love so dearly.

Cancer has touched my family in profound ways. We lost my dear sister Beth in 2010 after six years of courageous treatment for ovarian cancer. In 2006, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer. I was incredibly fortunate—my doctor enrolled me in a clinical trial, and our friends rallied around our family and our three young children. I’ll forever be grateful for the world-class research and compassionate care that made all the difference.

But research and patient care don’t happen without us. With funding cuts threatening progress, philanthropy is more important than ever. I’m riding for Beth. I’m riding for my friends Birgit and Maura. I’m riding for Shelley, who is facing pancreatic cancer with fierce determination. And I’m riding for the countless others still in the fight.

I've set a modest fundraising goal for this last-minute effort—one I hope we can completely blow out of the water.

Will you join me in supporting cancer research and patient care? Every gift brings hope.

With thanks and love,

Kate