JK PanMass Challenge letter

[Luftmensch067]

No one can make me want to give money for a cause like John Kerry! The subject line of this email is simply: Cancer.

Hello Luftmensch,

My family -- like almost every family in America -- has been touched by cancer. My father died of prostate cancer, and I'm a survivor myself. My two daughters lost their mother to cancer just a couple years ago, and in the last year Teresa has taken on breast cancer.

And of course, just last year, our friend Ted Kennedy lost his year-long battle with brain cancer, leaving the Senate without its liberal lion.

It's for everyone touched by cancer that I'm riding for the seventh time in the PanMass Challenge to raise money for research to defeat this disease once and for all.

I know that there's a natural tendency to ask yourself whether your contributions to this cause make a real impact. But, make no mistake, we are making huge strides in the fight every year in our hospitals and laboratories. Patients who twenty years ago were given the grimmest prognoses are now surviving, and with a dramatically improved quality-of-life.

We're reading and hearing incredible stories about vaccines and new treatments that are on the horizon, and what scientists describe as the very real possibility - once unthinkable - that major forms of cancer may be curable within our lifetimes.

Just imagine a world where cancer is relegated to the history books. That's why it is so important to support the next generation of groundbreaking research.

Every donation matters, so please click here to give today to support my ride and help fund treatment and prevention through the Jimmy Fund.

The Jimmy Fund has been a leader in raising money for decades; I remember hearing Ted Williams calling for donations to the Jimmy Fund when I listened to Red Sox games back when I was a kid. Today, they raise millions of dollars every year to give patients and families support to fight and beat this disease.

This is the way we've made so much progress over the years, one donation at a time. We need to make much more progress, but we can do it, mile by mile and donation by donation.

Join us, and give money today to help fight cancer.

Thank you. I'll give every ounce of energy I have on that 110-mile ride.

Sincerely,
John Kerry

[karynnj]

1. It is incredibly amazing that he can do this bike ride - for this excellent cause

[Inuca]

3. These hip replacements

must be working really well :-)

[karynnj]

2. Well, he got Senator Brown to sign up to ride as well

And while the ride will mark Kerry's seventh time racing in the event, this year the cause is even more personal.

As he reminded supporters in an email on Wednesday, Kerry's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, is battling breast cancer. She was diagnosed last winter.

The senator also lost his dear friend, the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), to brain cancer last summer.

In a first for the PanMass Challenge, this year the state's other senator, and Kennedy's replacement, Sen. Scott Brown (R) will pedal the 110 mile course.

http://washingtonscene.thehill.com/in-the-know/36-news/5201-kerry-to-ride-his-bike-110-miles

At least it might keep the lesser Senator out of trouble for a day. (He voted to allow a vote for DeMint's amendment to make the repeal of the estate tax permanent today -- after pushing his bill to pay for the unemployment benefits.

[ProSense]

4. Thanks for posting

Glad I'm still getting these e-mail updates.

I support this. :)

[ObamaKerryDem]

5. Me too. :) As someone who has--too--lost a loved one to this terrible disease..

..I was very moved by Sen. Kerry's words in this email. I will try to donate something ASAP as this is for a really great cause!

[Luftmensch067]

6. I'd been waiting for payday to do this

And that was yesterday. As it happens, it came just when I most wanted to show support for JK as well as this very good cause. I guess the ride is next weekend, so I thought I'd kick this in case you, too, haven't donated yet and want to before the ride.

[MBS]

8. Done.

One nice thing is that there seems to be no minimum amount. . you can truly choose an amount that you can afford to pay.

[wisteria]

7. I will be donating a little something.

One of the things that pains me being unemployed, is not having the extra money I use to have to give to charities. They are all hurting in this economy, but once in a while I can scrap together a little bit extra, and I have been able to do so in this case.

[Luftmensch067]

9. New letter from Vicki Kennedy via JK's email list

Subject line is "personal"

Hello Luftmensch,

My husband, Ted Kennedy, fought for health care for all Americans from his first days as a Senator through his own brave fight against cancer. This cause was personal to Ted and me because, even before his own diagnosis, our family, like so many families, knew the fear and concern of having a loved one diagnosed with cancer. Ted was especially proud that he'd helped pass the National Cancer Act 30 years ago, and when he became ill he'd already begun work to modernize that bill so that we continue to lead the world in modern health care advances.

That fight takes many forms. My friend John Kerry, Teddy's friend and colleague in the Senate for 25 years, is riding in the PanMass Challenge for the seventh time to raise money for cancer research. His ride is even more personal this year, as his wife Teresa wages her own fight against cancer.

Clicking on this link above will give you a chance to contribute to his ride and help raise money for the Jimmy Fund.

The Jimmy Fund is one of the oldest and most successful cancer-fighting charities in the country. It's been an institution since a fundraising drive for the original "Jimmy" in 1948, and it raises millions of dollars every year to help fight cancer. The work they've done has saved countless lives.

Please follow this link to help them save more lives.

Teddy's spirit, his resolve, and his will to fight inspired all of us every day. Join me in keeping that fighting spirit going. Together we can beat cancer once and for all.
Thank you,
Vicki Kennedy

As of now, the Senator's total of contributions from donors this year is $60,609.51, his highest since 2008, but that year he raised $133,933.22! I hope the total will rise as we go towards the ride this weekend.