Starting tomorrow, September 1, I will again take part in the Great Cycle Challenge to fight kids' cancer! This year I plan to ride 300 miles and with your help raise $3,000.

Each year in the U.S. there are an estimated 15,780 children between the ages of birth and 19 years of age who are diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday. Globally there are more than 300,000 children diagnosed with cancer each year. Every 3 minutes, somewhere in the world a family hears the devastating words that their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Over the past 40 years, the number of children diagnosed with leukemia has increased by about 35%. While survival rates for many types of childhood cancer have improved, for too many children, cancer will shorten their lives too soon. Cancer remains the most common cause of death by disease for children in America. Let’s help change those statistics.

So many of you were so generous last year and to you I am eternally grateful. Your continued support will not only change these little lives but the lives of loving parents going through this painful journey with their kids. No amount is too small, (or too large).

With deep gratitude,

Imelda