20 years ago, on May 1st, 2002, I said my final goodbye to my dad when he died of cancer. It seems like just yesterday in so many ways. I think of him every day and the lessons I learned from him. He instilled a great sense of family and heritage, a love for life and an endlessly inquisitive mind. He was a student of life, always wanting to learn new things, like learning to bake bread from scratch at 68 and going to his first Grateful Dead concert in his 70's. He was a very young 74 when he died, much too soon.
This is my 6th year riding the PMC. I had always wanted to do this event, but finally decided to ride when my sister Giselle was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then, too many family members and loved ones have been diagnosed with cancer. I will keep riding to raise the funds that will help them beat this disease, and hopefully find a cure so that future generations will not have to struggle with cancer and all of its effects.
Every year, my supporters share with me the names of their loved ones who have battled cancer, and I ride with those names on my bike all through training and through the entire PMC weekend. They pretty much never leave my bike and are a constant reminder of their strength and struggles, that we can do hard things, and that together we really can make a difference.
I am riding in honor of:
My dad, George McGuire, whose motto in life was Don't Quit, and he lived life to the fullest, even with cancer.
My sister Giselle, who fought breast cancer and was finally getting back to life after treatment when she died suddenly from an aneurysm in October 2019.
Our cousin Gabby Sherman, who died from a brain tumor in March 2019 at the too young age of 18.
My brother-in-law Steve Wintle, who was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer, but thanks to advances in cancer treatment, is now in full remission;
My sister-in-law's niece Kendall, who was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with her second child. She is still in active treatment and has a long journey ahead, but she is a WARRIOR and such an inspiration as she takes on being a mother, wife and a working professional. Just WOW.
100% of donations go directly to cancer treatment and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I want to help end cancer so people don't have to ensure this anymore.
I ride as part of Team Perry, and we raise money for the Perry S. Levy Fund for Gastrointestinal Cancer Research at Dana Farber. The team's fundraising supports research on cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. These cancers will represent almost 1/4 of all new cancer diagnosis this year and will be responsible for 1/3 of the cancer deaths this year. The researchers share their progress with us and in the 5 years I have been riding, they have literally been able to bring the research from bench to bedside - PROGRESS IS BEING MADE!!
THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart!!