Would you like to make a difference in the lives of those that have been impacted by cancer? You can by supporting my PMC ride. On August 3rd and 4th I will participate in the 40th Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) by commiting to raise $10,000 and cycling 192 miles on the Sturbridge to Provincetown route. This will be my 11th year riding and I will once again be riding along with the John Hancock PMC team as we team up for the fight against cancer. 100% of donations to my PMC ride will help cancer patients by supporting life-saving cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston, Massachusetts.

I started riding with the John Hancock PMC team in 2009 after losing my eight year old daughter Lia to a rare form of Leukemia. She battled this disease for 2.5 years and during that time she received two Bone Marrow Transplants, the first one from her older brother who was only eight years old at the time. Like most cancer patients, she also received heavy chemotherapy and radiation, and lost her hair and strength to do most of the activities and sports she loved to do. But she made the most of every day and worked hard to enjoy the things she could like music, arts and crafts and playing games. In 2007 and 2008, she was a Pedal Partner for the John Hancock PMC team. As a Pedal Partner, she provided inspiration to the riders as they did the same to her, giving her the strength and courage to endure. However, despite her will to live and survive, her little body could not maintain the strength needed to conquer this terrible disease. She died on October 6, 2008, only eight years old and a life time cut much too short.

Lia continues to inspire me to ride and I know she continues to inspire others as well.  In 2007 she was featured in a program called the “Boston Red Sox Stories” where her words of encouragement were to provide advice not only for the Red Sox but for anyone needing some support, encouragement and inspiration to help with any challenges that may come your way.  If you would like to see that video, you can view it by clicking the link here:  Lia's Red Sox Stories

Please help continue the fight against cancer by supporting my PMC ride by making a donation today. Together, we can create a world without cancer!

Thank you for your support!