Why am I riding? I'm riding for our most vulnerable... children faced with cancer. These children, who at no fault of their own, are required to fight harder than most do in a lifetime. Did you know that every 3 minutes, somehwere in the world, a family hears the devasting news that their child has been diagnosed with cancer? Some children win the battle, while others don't. I ride for our children. I ride for childhood cancer awerness and research.
I am riding in memory of Ava Doiron-Franklin. At five years old, she was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. Ava fought hard and always with a smile on her face, but she lost her battle right before her 8th birthday. Ava's story and her brave fight touched our entire Salem, NH community, particularly the students at her North Salem Elementary School. Ava's younger sister, Ella, and my daughter, Addison, were in kindergarden together and became best buddies. Because of their friendship and Ava's cancer journey, I was introduced to the girls dads, Michael Doiron and Jeff Franklin. These two men have become great friends of mine and I feel lucky to know them both. Through our friendship, I have become much more aware of what families face when they have a child fighting cancer, especailly of how aweful and unfair it is to loose your child to cancer. Simply, childhoold cancer sucks and we need to do more for these children and their families.
Why else am I riding? Cause I am a lucky to have three awesome kids that push me every day to be a better Dad. Honestly, it was my freshman son, Tanner, that was the force behind me signing up for the Pan-Mass Challenge. If my almost 15 year old son was willing to take on the challenge of raising $8,000 and ride almost 200 miles on a bike for cancer research, then why couldn't I? Bet's are on that this 43 year old will cross the finish line before the 15 year old!!
I ride for my high school buddy, Mike Travers, who is fighting stage 4 esophagel cancer. Like all cancers, this cancer is evil, but Mike is a figher and is still fighting. Words cannot express how I feel for him, his wife and four children.
I ride in memory of my mother-n-law, Anne Piro, who lost her battle with lung cancer in 2013. My wife and our three kids were her world. I know she would be proud knowing that Tanner and I are taking on this amzing challenge together.
Again, I am glad to be on this Pan-Mass journey with my son! Tanner and I will both be riding together this August, along side our friend, Michael Doiron, in memory of Ava and all those we have lost to cancer. We also ride for those who are still fighting. We are honored to be a part of Team Caciano and riding for our Pedal Partner, Max (6 year old with leukemia, currently in remission) while raising money and awareness for cancer research. Help Tanner and I meet our combined goal of $13,000! We can't do it without you!!
Your donation is tax deductible and 100% will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for cancer reasearch. NO ADMIN FEES, NO OVERHEAD!! Your dollars will support 100% PURE RESEARCH!
Why am I riding? Just think of a world without cancer!!! That's why I am riding!!!
