Dear Friends:
For the past eleven years I have joined thousands of others to help end the devastating effects of cancer by riding my bicycle in the 200-mile-long Pan Mass Challenge (www.pmc.org) event during the first weekend in August. Unfortunately, we all know somebody who is going through chemotherapy, or grieving the loss of a loved one that fought and lost the battle against cancer. I ride because I can, for others who cannot. I have a personal stake in this event as well, as my mom died of breast cancer when I was a teenager. Eleven years ago, I started riding in this event when I lost a good friend to skin cancer. About four years ago, a family friend’s daughter lost the long-fought battle of their daughter who was only in her teens. With these sad, but never-ending stories that so many of us share, I continue the battle for others and I ride because I can, for others who cannot! I am riding on behalf of my company, Air Solutions & Balancing to create a united team for our fundraising efforts, so we can make a larger impact in working towards the goal of conquering the battle against cancer. Some of my office team mates will also serve as virtual riders to help raise additional funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I ride because I can, for others who cannot.
The first day’s ride starts in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and ends on the campus of Mass Maritime Academy and is 111 miles long. After sleeping in the dorm rooms, we leave Mass Maritime the next morning at 5:00 a.m. and ride to Provincetown, Cape Cod, with that distance being about 85 miles. I usually arrive in Provincetown around 10:30 a.m. and catch the noon ferry from P-Town back to Boston harbor with my bike. My wife is very much part of the team as she drops me off on Friday night in Sturbridge and picks me up at the Boston harbor on Sunday to take me home. The cancer fighters, who are going through chemotherapy or radiation are experiencing so much more pain and challenges than I can possibly imagine. This long bike ride will be my symbol of appreciation to you, my donors, who are willing to help fight this horrible disease. I ride because I can, for others who cannot.
My goal is to raise at least $20,000.00 this year. All the administrative costs of the ride are covered by my personally paid for registration fees. As a model of fundraising efficiency, since 2007 the Pan-Mass Challenge organization has donated 100% of every rider-raised dollar directly to cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Would you please help me reach that goal with your pledge to help those fighting against cancer? Your donation is tax deductible. You may click this link below for quick online donations to my special PMC website.
http://www2.pmc.org/profile/OZ0001
If you prefer to mail a check, please make it payable to Pan-Mass Challenge and send it to:
Air Solutions & Balancing, LLC
Attn: PMC – Air Solutions & Balancing
40 King Street, Unit 1 Auburn, NH 03032
Thank you in advance for your support. Please call me if you have any questions or comments about the Pan-Mass Challenge. I can be reached anytime at 603-305-0386.
Sincerely,
Olaf
