In 2009, at the age of 21, my life was drastically changed and has been different ever since. I was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma and immediately sought out treatment at the world renowned Dana Farber Cancer Institute. After months of chemotherapy, weeks of radiation, 4 surgeries, and some time in the hospital, I was good as new. Without the expert work of the doctors and nurses and the support from my family and friends the ending may have been different. Enduring that struggle left me with a sort of, deal with it, tough it out mentality that I cherish to this day. I began to cycle shortly after I was cured, mainly to get back in shape and to try something new but I quickly fell in love with it. After I completed my first PMC in 2012 I immediately realized there is no better venue than the PMC to really test your limits, bear down, tough it out and feel alive.

In July of 2020, I received a call after an MRI that there was a large mass in the center of my spinal canal. After seeing my life flash before my eyes I was brought into Dana Farber and within hours I had received additional scans and a plan was in place to have the tumor removed by one of the best neurosurgeons in the world. Thankfully during this time they were also able to say with enough certainty that it was not my sarcoma returning. The speed and care they took to my situation was amazing to witness. While the tumor was benign, this event still reinforces the fact that the work the PMC and Dana Farber do are so important and the best in the world.

Everyone who rides the PMC has their particular reasons why they ride. I have a few myself but my main reason, as selfish as this may sound, is once a year I get to ride my bike across the state and say fuck you cancer, look at me now.

Please consider donating to this cause so that anyone who is suffering now or will suffer in the future will get the chance to continue on as I have and return to their lives, stronger than ever.

Anthony Magliozzi