On August 4 and 5, I will ride in my first Pan Mass Challenge, a two-day bicycle ride across Massachusetts to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I do so to honor my cousin Sean Williams who died unexpectedly on April 29, 2018 at the age of 33. While Sean did not die of cancer, he is the second cousin of my generation that I have lost in my short lifetime. My cousin Steven died of cancer at the age of 15. I was only 9. Cancer took all four of my grandparents, including my beloved grandfather, Papa, in May 2012. This disease has caused me terrible sadness and heartache in taking away those that I love. Sean’s passing has been no different. So I am taking on this challenge to honor and remember Sean and to raise money to find cures for a disease that takes so many lives. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber. The PMC raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country. Last year, the PMC raised a record $51 million.
My dad, Mel, has been riding the PMC for the last 31 consecutive years. That’s every single year of my life, and then some. In total, he has raised over $166,000. It’s through him that I started riding. He gave me my first fixed gear bicycle, which I rode for commuting purposes all over Boston. Growing up in the shadow of his epic rides, I was destined to follow in his footsteps, or should I say pedal strokes. Every year, he would ride 150 miles from Boston to New Haven for Passover, into the Berkshires of Western Mass to visit me for Dad’s Weekend at Camp Becket, and he once rode from Boston to Montreal and back in 83 hours.
Inspired by my dad and his cycling community, in the summer of 2015, unsure of my life’s next step, I rode solo from Boston to Portland, Oregon over 45 days on my fixed gear (you can read my blog here). This life changing experience sparked a deeper interest in riding my bicycle and left me itching to explore the open road again, which I will do this summer.
As a high school math teacher, I am fortunate to have the summers off. My older brother, Adam, is getting married this July on his fiancée’s farm in Kentucky. My plan since last September has been to ride from Boston to the wedding. I will stay with friends and family along the way in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey (where I’ll be staying with Sean’s family), and Philadelphia before heading into the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina to ride along Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Just a few weeks later I will get back on my bike to dedicate this PMC to Sean.
While Sean grew up four hours away in New Jersey, it was as if we grew up together. Every year, our families would get together for Passover and Thanksgiving. Since my Papa also lived in New Jersey, there would be many other frequent visits. Growing up, Adam and I, Sean and his sister Kerri were the four kids of the family, which created a special bond, like four siblings. Now, as we’ve grown up with busy jobs and life commitments, the question I always ask my parents before a family gathering is: “Will Sean and Kerri be there?” Because a get-together without them isn’t nearly as fun.
Sean, being the oldest, entertained us with everything from creatively elaborate action figure games to physical wrestling matches. I looked up to him as the expert of hobbies we shared. For example, he mentored and advised me in the trading card game Yugioh and the video game Guitar Hero. Sean was a special cousin. I will miss his creativity, his brilliance, his charismatic way of speaking, his enthusiasm and ability to teach and explain almost anything. Most of all, I will just miss the time we would have had together. I can’t believe he is gone.
My goal is to raise $5000. I would greatly appreciate your donation for this worthy cause, and for supporting me in my efforts to honor my beloved cousin.
Please donate to my ride by clicking one of these links:
You can also mail me a check payable to ‘PMC Jimmy Fund’ at 9 Coolidge Street Brookline, MA 02446.
PMC donations are tax deductible and 100% will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The Pan-Mass Challenge only uses your personal information to thank you and will note share it with any other organizations.
Thank you,
Ari
astoler428@gmail.com
On August 4 and 5, I will ride in my first Pan Mass Challenge, a two-day bicycle ride across Massachusetts to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I do so to honor my cousin Sean Williams who died unexpectedly on April 29, 2018 at the age of 33. While Sean did not die of cancer, he is the second cousin of my generation that I have lost in my short lifetime. My cousin Steven died of cancer at the age of 15. I was only 9. Cancer took all four of my grandparents, including my beloved grandfather, Papa, in May 2012. This disease has caused me terrible sadness and heartache in taking away those that I love. Sean’s passing has been no different. So I am taking on this challenge to honor and remember Sean and to raise money to find cures for a disease that takes so many lives. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber. The PMC raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country. Last year, the PMC raised a record $51 million.
My dad, Mel, has been riding the PMC for the last 31 consecutive years. That’s every single year of my life, and then some. In total, he has raised over $166,000. It’s through him that I started riding. He gave me my first fixed gear bicycle, which I rode for commuting purposes all over Boston. Growing up in the shadow of his epic rides, I was destined to follow in his footsteps, or should I say pedal strokes. Every year, he would ride 150 miles from Boston to New Haven for Passover, into the Berkshires of Western Mass to visit me for Dad’s Weekend at Camp Becket, and he once rode from Boston to Montreal and back in 83 hours.
Inspired by my dad and his cycling community, in the summer of 2015, unsure of my life’s next step, I rode solo from Boston to Portland, Oregon over 45 days on my fixed gear (you can read my blog here). This life changing experience sparked a deeper interest in riding my bicycle and left me itching to explore the open road again, which I will do this summer.
As a high school math teacher, I am fortunate to have the summers off. My older brother, Adam, is getting married this July on his fiancée’s farm in Kentucky. My plan since last September has been to ride from Boston to the wedding. I will stay with friends and family along the way in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey (where I’ll be staying with Sean’s family), and Philadelphia before heading into the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia and North Carolina to ride along Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Just a few weeks later I will get back on my bike to dedicate this PMC to Sean.
While Sean grew up four hours away in New Jersey, it was as if we grew up together. Every year, our families would get together for Passover and Thanksgiving. Since my Papa also lived in New Jersey, there would be many other frequent visits. Growing up, Adam and I, Sean and his sister Kerri were the four kids of the family, which created a special bond, like four siblings. Now, as we’ve grown up with busy jobs and life commitments, the question I always ask my parents before a family gathering is: “Will Sean and Kerri be there?” Because a get-together without them isn’t nearly as fun.
Sean, being the oldest, entertained us with everything from creatively elaborate action figure games to physical wrestling matches. I looked up to him as the expert of hobbies we shared. For example, he mentored and advised me in the trading card game Yugioh and the video game Guitar Hero. Sean was a special cousin. I will miss his creativity, his brilliance, his charismatic way of speaking, his enthusiasm and ability to teach and explain almost anything. Most of all, I will just miss the time we would have had together. I can’t believe he is gone.
My goal is to raise $5000. I would greatly appreciate your donation for this worthy cause, and for supporting me in my efforts to honor my beloved cousin.
Please donate to my ride by clicking one of these links:
You can also mail me a check payable to ‘PMC Jimmy Fund’ at 9 Coolidge Street Brookline, MA 02446.
PMC donations are tax deductible and 100% will go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The Pan-Mass Challenge only uses your personal information to thank you and will note share it with any other organizations.
Thank you,
Ari
astoler428@gmail.com
I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list.
| 2018 | $9,153.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
