We won't stop until cancer is in the rear view mirror!

2018 will be the13th PMC #13 for me and it's only been possible through the support from all of you! In 12 years, we've brought $66,000 for cancer research to the Dana Farber. Along the way I've cycled 2,400 miles on the PMC route from Sturbridge to P'Town (and about 1200 miles/yr in spring and summer miles for pre-PMC training). This year I'm riding with the Patriots Platelet Pedalers team, the second biggest PMC team (over 150 riders). All the team members make platelet donations at Dana Farber, and the team targets its donations especially in support of Dr. Anderson's Multiple Myeloma research at the Dana Farber.

Why I commit to the PMC?

Cancer Sucks!, and it will suck for 40% of all men and 35% of all women in their life. This year in the US, cancer will kill 1600 people PER DAY! There will be 1.7 million new cases in the US this year (not counting skin cancers!). The PMC is the most effective way to make a difference because 100% of donations go right to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (US World and News - Top 3 cancer research centers in the world) . Last year's PMC donation of $51 million brought the PMC total to $ 598 million!. Enough to make a real difference and progress is happening! www.pmc.org

Cherish the past; Commit to the future!

I took on my first PMC in 2006, mostly driven by how I watched cancer devastate my mom Ruth (age 42) and my brother-in-law, Kip, (age 45),. Back then I was praying I could do the miles and maybe find someone (anyone) who would support my ride. You all came through (!) and I trained enough to make it the whole way. What I didn't expect were the stories from you of so many family's loss to cancer -- mothers, fathers, brothers, children. Each year I've been honored to carry all the names, memories, pictures, and tokens, pinned to my shirt or carried in a letters. I've cherished and shared those stories on the road from Sturbridge to P-town, at water stops, first aid tents, even while pedaling along with other PMC'ers. Each year I've carried more - more names - more stories - and the battle goes on. I’ve written here about a few -- Scott Miller(Army sergeant and Iraq vet), Mike Cronin, (my boss/mentor of 10 years, friend, and person who taught me how to tell a story), Jane Campbell (my stepmother), Tim Rees (my friend and coach to Amanda's soccer team) (I miss Tim's awesome English humor each time I think of him, and he would be so excited about the English soccer team!) and so many more, some I can't mention but still fighting the good fight, because cancer never quits. It must be beaten!

What keeps me coming back to the PMC (and to you!)

How do I share what it feels like to fly on a bike, weightless down a country road, surrounded by 6,000 angels? With cheering crowds for 200 miles, and chemo-scarfed kids holding signs saying Without you, I would not be here? It's joy in living and commitment to Doing Something to make a better world. Every year, I 'm sorrounded by awesome people committed to the goal, and I know behind each angel's smile they carry the pain and memories of who they ride for. Each name, memory, spirit, story we carry makes it easier to go on; to train in the spring cold and wet; to push up the hills in summer heat with injuries, worn out knees, and aching bodies, and (hardest of all) to ask for your help in the fight. I wish you all could be there riding the 200 miles from Sturbridge to P'Town. It’s two days of rolling joy, and just ‘being with’ the spirits of those who ride no more. While it’s no easy thing to ride with tears in your eyes, and a heart bursting with emotion, the feelings lift the pedals and the miles fly by.

Closer by the mile

Closer to the day when cancer is history -- When the newspapers proclaiming cancer is dead will be delivered on a bicycle! On Page 1 will be the PMC -- how WE all got together, how WE didn’t wait for a distant government to do something, and how WE made a difference ourselves. It might not be done in time for you or me or Tim, but with all of us pitching in, it might be in time for Amanda, or McCoy, or Maggie, and their kid’s kids. The future will be the benefactors of what we all do now.

All, I can also tell you, is that in 20 days on August 4-5, all the names, and all the memories (TIm, Mike, Kip, my mom, and all the names you shared with me) will be alive in my heart, making me smile, and helping me up the Sturbidge hills, and P'Town dunes, telling me as Tim would, “Well played, Kevin. Now let’s get on with it, and get to the finish for a cold glass!”

You can support the fight against cancer at this link: http://www.pmc.org/profile/KS0135 or with the Donate button or a check to Pan-Mass Challenge or Jimmy Fund sent to my home address (1 Sorelle Pl, Burlington, MA 01803)

So, best wishes, good health, happy days, ride on, and Let's Beat Cancer!

Thanks for your support!

-Kevin