August 2, 2019
Dear Friends,
Off to Sturbridge this morning to prep for the weekend ride. Betsy will be volunteering for the PMC (a Sunday morning breakfast cook)...so we are both heading out together!
Thanks for all of your support with my 190 mile Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) from Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA -- August 3-4, 2019. I appreciate the good vibes, the donations, and the thoughtful efforts in support of others...whether through this Dana-Farber fundraiser or otherwise....
I am excited to announce that I have reached my fundraising goal of $5,000, though, of course, I am pleased to continue the fundraising focus in further support of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute...donations can be made thorugh the end of September. Actually, I am close to reaching the $8,500 heavy-hitter category...which means, of course, increased funding for DFCI efforts. Your contribution will so be so graciously appreciated by me, my wife Betsy, daughter Rachel, and son Ethan, who just became a six-year cancer survivor.
In this process, I have so many people to thank, including my Facebook Fundraising Supporters (who are unfortunately not able to be listed on my PMC site due to the nature of that donation platform), my PMC-Website Supporters and my Anonymous Supporters (via check-writing or on-line)...for their generous contributions. Thank you, thank you!! I so appreciate the thoughtfulness of family and friends enabling me to take on this challenge on so many levels.
This weekend will be my first PMC ride, and I am proud to be riding:
...In recognition of Ethan Hawes, knowing that my efforts and supportive gifts will contribute to the very place that was so quick in uncovering his Multiple Myeloma diagnosis six summers ago – Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. My bike training regimen pales in comparison to Ethan’s past experiences and resilient approach (and the experiences of so many other courageous people/families out there), yet it does provide me an opportunity to play a role within the Dana-Farber community as they have played such an integral role within our family journey.
...In memory of Louise Pubols (Betsy's first cousin, once removed) remembering, always, her grace, beauty, brilliance and sense of humor as a beloved family member, as a caring friend, and, as I have admiringly heard...an amazing colleague in several U.S. western history museum curator roles and as an accomplished U.S. western history author. Louise's many strengths and attributes, including her zest for life, were thoughtfully recounted and remembered last summer at a memorial service at Mount Hood, Oregon--at essentially the time of the upcoming PMC.
My PMC participation essentially began in late February as Ellen Fisher, Betsy and I attended the Patriot Platelet Pedalers’ (Boston) annual meeting…in part to support Ethan’s guest speaker address. The Platelet Pedalers group rides for the PMC with specific funding going to the Multiple Myeloma branch of Dana-Farber research. I was in awe of their group spirit and quickly joined the team! As such, my PMC fund-raising will be directed to DFCI Multiple Myeloma research.
A quick note here...besides credit card donations via this site, the PMC accepts checks made out to the Pan-Mass Challenge, PMC, Jimmy Fund and/or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If you prefer this route, checks can be sent to my home address at 1211 State Rd. Eliot, ME 03903.
I am immensely grateful for everyone’s support and am so excited for the early-August ride!
Thank you!
Joel (and Family)
