Chad Harple's PMC

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MY PMC Total

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$0.00

PMC TOTAL

$0.00

GOAL

$4,500.00

PMC ID - CH0206

DONATE BY DAF, BANK, OR CARD

Donate Any Amount

PMC ID - CH0206

DONATE BY DAF, BANK, OR CARD

Donate Any Amount

Why I Ride ...

Dear friends and family,
I'm riding again to raise money for cancer research and hoping you'll donate to the Pan Mass Challenge on my behalf. Eerily similar to last year, I committed to ride 190 miles over Aug. 1-2 and to raise $4300 as part of the effort. If you're feeling motivated and ready to support the Ride, please click the "Donate" button below! But if you want to know first why I'm doing this ride again (particularly agreeing to fundraise -- like most people, I'd put "asking for donations" as just a notch below "root canal" on the scale of "ways that I want to spend my time"), here's my pitch:
PMC is an annual two-day bike ride that raises money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. (Dana Farber operates the Jimmy Fund -- more details at pmc.org.) Aside from having a fantastic experience at the ride last year (more on that below), I just think PMC is a worthwhile charity. For a brief bulletin from the obvious -- cancer is a huge problem. It's the second-leading cause of death in the U.S. Per the American Cancer Society, 1.65 million will be diagnosed with some form of cancer this year, while an estimated 589,000 will die from it. Plus -- to get technical -- chemo sucks.
Second bulletin -- research helps. Cancer survival rates have increased from 49% to 68%, based upon studies conducted around 1975 and from 2004-2010. (Get more info by googling "Cancer Facts and Figures 2015.") At least some of that increase can be attributed to advances in treatment and early detection, which is where PMC funds go -- 100% of funds raised will go to the charity, Dana Farber, which DFCI uses as unrestricted funds for cancer research and treatments. And DFCI hasn't been slacking. In less than eight years, they've developed 50 new prototype drugs, six of which are now in clinical trials. Because DFCI operates largely through grants and donations, they also disseminate these drug treatments widely within the scientific community (rather than seeking to commercialize them). There are lots of fundraisers, but I think this one is particularly worthy because DFCI is doing great work and 100% of your donations will support it.
More personally, aside from being a ton of fun (I do actually like biking), last year's ride drove home the importance of this research for me. As I wrote last year, I have relatives and friends that have battled cancer, although I can't say that I've watched those fights up close. Many of the people I rode with have been more directly impacted. Some riders were cancer survivors, others carried photos of the loved ones they were riding for on their bikes and their jerseys. And while it poured pretty much all weekend, many parts of the route were still lined with neighbors, survivors and ride volunteers who wanted to cheer us all on. The turnout made me reflect on what a terrible struggle it is for those diagnosed and for their families -- at least, that's what I guess motivated so many people to roll out of their homes on a soggy summer Saturday. I knew it was a worthwhile cause, but witnessing that firsthand was inspiring. It also gave that sense, as a group, we could tackle this big, abstract problem -- or at least take some concrete pedals toward diminishing it. (I know, cue the studio audience here - but I didn't know how else to put it.)
If you've stayed with me this far -- thanks for reading and for considering donating. I can't really promise this will be the last time I come to you to ask for charitable donations, but at least it's always tax-deductible?
I hope to hear from you all and best wishes. Shamelessly,-Chad

Why I Ride ...

My Supporters

My History

2017	$0.00	PMC Rider
2016	$250.00	PMC Rider
2015	$4,606.00	Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day)
2014	$6,928.00	Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day)

Chad Harple's PMC

Chad Harple's PMC

MY PMC Total

$0.00

PMC TOTAL

$0.00

GOAL

$4,500.00

PMC ID - CH0206

DONATE BY DAF, BANK, OR CARD

PMC ID - CH0206

DONATE BY DAF, BANK, OR CARD

Why I Ride ...

Why I Ride ...

My Supporters

My History

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