I ride for others.

For my dad, Beeb.

For Uncle Til, Eddie, Sheila, Steve G., and Joan.

For family members, friends, and strangers who have lost their battle. For those who have had the strength to overcome this disease. For those who empower and support their loved ones through their battle. For all the healthcare providers that care for each individual. For anybody who has been touched by cancer and for all that will be.

I'm riding the Pan-Mass Challenge with the hope that our contributions will give future people and their families the best opportunity to beat this disease like I have been so lucky to do 21 years ago. I want to show my friends and family who supported me through tough times that they have inspired me to help and support others. I want to serve as an example for those who are in battle. To show them that it is possible to live a long and healthy life after their diagnosis and bring them strength to support them through their journey.

Hope is stronger than fear.

I'm proud to support the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last year 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.

MY CANCER STORY

January 8, 2004 I was diagnosed with cancer. I'll never forget that damp, raw January day in Boston, nor the look on the tech's face who performed the scan. His uneasiness and apprenhension was clear, and he was struggling to deliver the news. He had found a very large tumor. Clearly this was very serious, and I was scared. Although I was uncertain about my future, I was even more worried about my family. For close to two hours, I sat in my car in the hospital parking lot, trying to figure out how I would deliver this news to my wife and my young family. Be positive, be strong, let them know we are going to be okay.

The action from Dana Farber started immediately! After office hours that very evening, I was with my first surgeon, and he said to me, We will not let the sun set on this diagnosis, we act now. The first surgery was in motion.

Unfortunately, more tumors were discovered after my first surgery. That's one of the hardest things about Cancer treatment - the uncertainty, the hesitancy to trust in a healthy future; there are no guarantees. It's not like a broken bone that can be healed in eight weeks. It's about taking a risk with your team in choosing the best possible treatment option, and then all that can be done is to hope. To have faith in your doctors and yourself.

The next surgery would be the big one. February 23, 2004. I stayed positive by reminding myself how lucky I was to have the incredible support of my family and friends and to live so close to Dana Farber and Brigham and Women’s, one of the best cancer treatment centers in the world. I was able to meet the doctor who pioneered the groundbreaking surgery that would eventually save my life. He happened to be in Boston, working and teaching other surgeons how to perform the procedure at the time. I had a decision to make. The procedure was very high risk, but he was confident that this route gave me the best chance of survival, and I trusted my team.

The surgery was performed, and after a few bumps in the road, a month or so in the hospital, extraordinary care and months of recuperating, I was officially in remission on February 23, 2005. This surgery has saved countless other lives over the years.

The Team at Dana Farber is full of caring and brilliant people. They are able to grow and consistently improve these treatments with the help of contributions from events, just like this ride. After years of supporting cancer causes, last year, I teamed up with my son Connor and nephew Alex and committed to a mission of giving back by riding the PMC 2023. I could not have known what an meaningful experience this was to be. We met people,and children, in the middle of their fight, people who have lost loved ones, survivors like us, doctors, nurses all here to help and lay the groundwork to help. I was moved by the volunteers, and the support along the route, realizing how important this ride is to so many. Meaningful is the understatement of all time. With the help of our friends and family we were succesful in making a significant contribution to this great cause.

Let's Ride! Here we go with Round 3.

For a third consecutive year, our team will be riding the full two day event. We may look a little different as we have a couple additions. My nephew Alex (a fellow cancer survivor) has recruited his father in law Tom Spencer to hop in and endure the two day ride, and our steadfast CLO, now also living proof John Kelliher. So happy to be expanding the team! The more people we have the bigger impact we can make in helping Dana Farber help the people who need our support. Third year riding, 21 years cancer free for me. The mission remains the same. Give back, support those who dedicate themselves to developing treatments and cures, and help pave a path to a future without cancer. 21 extra years of being a son, brother, uncle, friend, colleague, a husband and a dad. Everyone who fights this disease should get those extra years. What a great opportunity we have to help others experience life. We've only just begun.

Any contribution goes a long way in the fight to cure cancer. I appreciate and am thankful if you are able to support the cause.