7/1/18 - Update - The 2018 PMC will be my 10th and final ride. The decade I have spent participating in this event is filled with more incredible memories than I will ever be able to fully recount. But suffice it to say that it has been an enormously motivational part of my life.... particularly because of all the remarkable, selfless people I have met along the way. None more so than the Pedal Partners and their families that continually exhibit breathtaking strength and resolve.
I won't ever be able to express my full gratitude to all the people that have sponsored and inspired my rides, but I will always keep trying.... Thank You!
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6/15/17 - Update - For 2017 Team Animal welcomes Pedal Partner Celia LaBarbera, a beautiful young girl named who was diagnosed with Neurofibromin Type 2 as a young child and has had greater than 30 surgeries to treat her condition. She was recently introduced to the DFCI and she is now undergoing a trial chemo therapy. We proudly ride for Celia, Shannon Fitzgerald (our Pedal Partner from last year) and all those affected by cancer.
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5/30/16 - Update - For 2016 Team Animal is now expanded to include 18 team members. This year our Pedal Partner is 16 year old Shannon Fitzgerald who is in the early stages of her battle with cancer. She is a beautiful young lady with an infectious smile and it will be my honor to keep her in my heart as I train for and then ride in the event. Over this past year two additional friends have been afflicted with cancer. They are waging their own battles and I will be sure to carry them in my thoughts as I ride as well.
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6/14/2015 - Update - In 2015 Team Animal adds a new team member as our dedicated Pedal Partner, Eric Albanese from Milton, Massachusetts. Eric was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma February 2014 at age 4 and continues his treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Team Animal riders met Eric and his family this past May and three photos can be viewed in the Team Animal photo gallery. 100% of your donations are guaranteed to go directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute!
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7/20/14 - Update - The Incentive Marketing Industry in which my company operates lost one of its dearest allies to cancer today. Karen Renk served and, in many ways, shaped the industry for more than 15 years. She retired last year in her early 60s ready for a new chapter in her life and was struck down by cancer shortly thereafter. In addition to the many others for whom I already ride, I will be taking the memory of Karen with me on this year’s trip.
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My History with the Jimmy Fund:
I have been active with the Jimmy Fund now for more than 25 years. For 15 of those years I served on the Cohasse Jimmy Fund Classic golf committee, including 6 years as tournament chairman. That golf tournament, played in Southbridge, MA, ran for 26 years total and contributed over $1 million to the Jimmy Fund. The long time Chair of that committee, Jim Gibson, was a good friend (and my former youth hockey coach) and his life was tragically cut short by cancer at the age of 59.
The PMC experience is personal for me in so many ways as many friends and family members have passed away as a result of the disease and others, including my mother are currently waging, and winning their own battles. 2009 was my first year riding in the PMC, and it really set the hook in me. 2016 will be my 8th year riding and over those years my teammates and I have raised more than $350,000 in support of the Jimmy Fund. I’m working hard and looking forward to experiencing the 2-day odyssey again!
Best wishes to all the riders and volunteers,
Brian Galonek