Thanks for taking a few minutes to read this letter. We all know that cancer is a terrible disease and it affects millions of lives. Chances are, you know someone who is fighting this terrible disease right now. Team Vic is committed to doing our part to help find a cure.

First, let's start with some basic facts:

The American Cancer Society estimates that 1.68 MILLION new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2017 - and over 600,000 men, women and children will die of the disease. Approximately 38.5% of men, women and children will be diagnosed with cancer at some point during their lifetimes. Right now, there are an estimated 14.7 million people living with some form of cancer.

THESE AREN'T JUST DRY STATISTICS.

Picture yourself and 2 of your closest loved ones. Statistically speaking, ONE of you will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in your lifetime. And that one person might be YOU!

HERE'S THE GOOD NEWS: More people than ever are surviving cancer. Thanks to advances in prevention, detection and improved treatments provided by wonderful hospitals and research facilities around the world, more of us are beating the odds with each passing day.

We are committed to help find a cure! The team at Vic Firth is participating in a two day, 192 mile bike-a-thon to raise money to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.

Our ride on August 5th and 6th is part of the annual Pan-Mass Challenge, which raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through an annual bike-a-thon that crosses Massachusetts, from Sturbridge to Provincetown. Over the past 37 years, PMC cyclists have ridden to raise and contribute $547 million to cancer research. In 2016, over 6,000 cyclists from 41 states and eight countries, along with donors, sponsors and volunteers joined together to raise $47 million dollars – 100% of which went directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Last year, TEAM VIC raised over $56,000 towards this goal. We truly believe in our cause and are humbled by the support we have received. I hope that I can count on your help towards reaching this year's goal. Any amount, no matter how small will help.

Don't think of it as just a tax-deductible donation.

Think of it as an INVESTMENT.

One day, you – or a member of your friends and family – will DEPEND on the research that is happening NOW!

Thanks for your support