Dear Friends,
Dana-Farber is a place where extraordinary things happen. Over the last seven years of The Dana-Farber Campaign, we have all seen it in action. Thanks to the tenacity and generosity of our entire community, we are defying cancer.
Behind every breakthrough is a story. In this issue, we celebrate the story of one of our longest and most exceptional partnerships: the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). This year the PMC surpassed an astounding cumulative total of $1 billion raised since 1980—an extraordinary achievement 45 years in the making, and all thanks to the incredible riders, volunteers, and philanthropists who have dedicated so much to our patients.
Throughout the Institute’s history, we have seen the power of partnerships—donors and organizations who believe in Dana-Farber and have invested in our mission. Drugs like Gleevec, a potent targeted therapy, and Keytruda, one of the first FDA-approved PD-1 inhibitors, are now household names and used to treat many types of cancer. These life-changing breakthroughs—plus more than half of the cancer drugs approved by the FDA in the past five years—would not have been possible without the powerhouse combination of Dana-Farber’s scientists and philanthropy.
Through The Dana-Farber Campaign, hundreds of thousands of people have enabled us to develop lifesaving treatments for the patients who need them. Our work continues, and I am grateful to have all of you working alongside us to defy cancer. In the next issue of Impact, we will share our collective thanks for this remarkable community, including Dr. Glimcher, the Campaign Cabinet, our Trustees, and our faculty, clinical partners, and staff, all of whom have contributed to this historic effort’s success.
Wishing you a warm and happy holiday season,
Melany N. Duval
Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer