I ride for Rich Coulter.

Rich Coulter has been my closest friend for 36 years. Rich and I went to college together, we are fraternity brothers, were the Best Men at each other’s wedding, and God Fathers to one of each’s children.

Rich was diagnosed with a brain tumor about 20 years ago. Although not malignant, because of where it is, malignancy has no bearing. They operated at it once, and could not get all of it. Although it is a slow growth tumor, as it grew, it grew towards the center of his brain. That meant that in his second operation, they could get less of it, and after that, there was no point in further surgery.

He has been undergoing treatment at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston for several years. Two years ago, they told him that they had exhausted all standard treatments to help him, and recommended that he apply to receive an experimental treatment. The treatment has stopped the tumor growth, and all these years later, he’s still here, fighting every day, accepting his circumstances in a way that I could not, and remains optimistic and determined to enjoy every moment. His goal for the last several years was to make it to his daughter’s wedding. Katherine will marry in June, so he’s almost there.

I live in Richmond, VA, and have thus never ridden in the PMC. But I am making the trip this year.