WHY I KEEP RIDING IN THE PAN MASS CHALLENGE

I embarked on my first Pan Mass Challenge in 2013 and explained that I was riding because in 1987, my husband David Kamowitz, after being stricken with leukemia at the age of 28, vowed to ride in the Pan Mass Challenge, and that after 26 years, I was riding in his place.

Since then, my reasons for riding have grown as additional family members have been faced with cancer diagnoses. But instead of just adding to the list of that we have lost, I am also adding to the list of those who have benefitted from advancements in cancer research and treatments.

So why am riding for the 12th time?

• I ride because David died from complications of a bone marrow transplant, leaving a 3-year-old son, Josh, who grew into a wonderful, caring, and intelligent adult, with a beautiful wife Becky who has devoted her career to cancer prevention and is now Executive Director of the Skin Cancer Foundation, having also worked at Delete Blood Cancer DKMS. I ride because Becky’s mother is a melanoma survivor and because her father is doing well after a cancer diagnosis several years ago.

• I ride because 26 years ago, I married a loving man, Marvin Getman, whose wife Carol was one of two sisters to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the early 1980’s. I ride because Carol Getman died of breast cancer in 1990, leaving behind two beautiful daughters, Abby, who has volunteered at the PMC, and Emily, who with her husband Jon generously support our efforts, while dealing with Emily's personal journey with ovarian cancer. I ride because Carol's sister Judie survived only to later succumb to a second form of cancer.

• I ride because our family has grown and now includes Emily and Jon’s adorable twin sons, Anton and Caleb, and Josh and Becky's precious daughter, Wiley. I ride so that our grandchildren will not have to fear the word “cancer.”

• I ride because in the fall of 2020, our lives were turned upside down when Emily was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and found out that genetics were to blame. I ride because due to scientific progress, Emily has now completed a second course of chemotherapy following a recurrance of her disease; is benefitting from cutting edge maintenance therapy as part of a clinical trial; and is living her life juggling work and parenting with a smile on her face.

• I ride because Marvin’s brother Joel, lost his wife Ada to pancreatic cancer. I ride because Joel’s new partner was diagnosed with lung cancer a number of years ago but is living life to the fullest as a result of immunotherapy. I ride because over ten years ago, Joel and Ada’s son lost his stomach, but not his life, to cancer.

• I ride because my 88-year old father, a prostate cancer survivor, died of lung cancer and other causes after he could not tolerate new targetted therapy. I ride because my father lost his dear friend to pancreatic after having survived breast cancer.

• I ride because my father-in-law succumbed to pancreatic cancer after enjoying many good years despite a prostate cancer diagnosis.

• I ride because I lost both grandfathers and a step-father-in-law to prostate cancer long before current treatments were available.

• I ride because, with increased awareness of warning signs, my brother caught a small melanoma in a very early stage.

• I ride because of my other relatives and friends who have won their battle with cancer or are fighting this disease, and for those we have tragically and sadly lost.

• I ride because of all the scientists, doctors and other caregivers who have made battling this disease their life-long work.

• I ride because after years of donating to support others' rides, I was tired of making excuses for not riding. I ride because I am tired of adding people diagnosed with cancer to this list.

• I ride because it just feels right.

Our family is immensely grateful for the recent scientific progress that has helped our daughter Emily and so many others. Knowing that the Pan Mass Challenge has helped fund this progress keeps me going both on the bike and off.

Please contribute what you can to support my efforts. Together, we can make a difference.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Sharon

To make an online donation, please direct it to my Team Sunshine account by clicking the link below.

If you prefer to donate by check please make it payable to either the Dana Farber Cancer Institute or the Jimmy Fund and mail it to

Team Sunshine

P.O. Box 247
Lexington, MA 02420.

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