Our company has a long history of helping neighbors in need, whether it’s in our communities or raising funds to fight cancer. As a family-owned company, we truly care about the communities we serve. From our headquarters and executive team to our branches and agents, we find innovative ways to give back and support charitable organizations, initiatives and neighbors across our nine-state footprint.
As we know all too well, cancer doesn’t stop during a pandemic. The need for funding research is as crucial as ever, as this vulnerable population of patients are even more at risk. As the world faces the evolving uncertainties of COVID-19, cancer cannot take a back seat.
The health, safety and well-being of our community has and always will be our top priority. Instead of holding our popular Raveis Ride + Walk in person this fall, we will be hosting a Virtual Ride + Walk from October 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020, which means you have the flexibility to participate wherever and whenever it is most convenient for you, your team or your family. We are continuing to support the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and adding a new charitable partner that needs our support, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts.
We’ve also made some changes to make the fundraising easier and more flexible.
– We have waived the registration fees and fundraising minimums.
– Registration opens October 1 and the Virtual Ride + Walk runs until November 30.
– You may choose to do a 5K walk, one of our three bike ride distances or spin at home, on your own time.
– Ask any of your family and friends or past donors to make a donation to you in any dollar amount. Anything you can contribute is appreciated.
– You can choose to donate to either Dana Farber or Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.
Any donation made to the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation will be matched by generous Damon Runyon board members, dollar for dollar and up to $125,000. So now your donations will go even farther and with more impact!
We challenge you to better your personal best, whether it be to walk or ride farther than in years past or raise more money! Even though this global pandemic has sidelined some of the funding normally channeled to research scientists, their work in finding a cure for cancer has not wavered.
Since 2015, our community bike ride and family walk event has raised more than $2.5 million and funded 16 scientists with the William Raveis Charitable Fund Fellowships. The Damon Runyon Cancer Foundation provides young scientists with funding to pursue their boldest, and most innovative ideas to prevent, diagnose, and treat all forms of cancer.
Damon Runyon scientists are also making an impact on the unprecedented global effort to stop the disease by investigating how this specific coronavirus enters human cells, developing more efficient testing and searching for a treatment. While Damon Runyon’s focus is on cancer, these projects demonstrate how their approach of funding brilliant scientists can result in benefits for patients in all areas of health.
A pioneer in cancer care and research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s lifesaving mission is to provide compassionate patient care and groundbreaking cancer research for children and adults. Dana Farber sees nearly 400,000 patients annually and has 50 independent research laboratories and 20 Interdisciplinary Disease centers. Of the 75 cancer related drugs that the FDA has approved since 2001, Dana-Farber contributed in the development of 35 of those.
And lastly, we are excited to announce we will be doing the Second Annual Karaoke 4 Cancer charity challenge, the fun campaign Evan Walsh in Wellesley, Massachusetts launched last year, because who doesn’t need a morale boost with everything going on?
Let’s show this year that we can overcome challenges and finish 2020 on a positive note. Join our community and let’s continue this fight against cancer. Today and for the future. We appreciate your support!