On February 28th, 2024, Chris Spear passed away at the age of 64, after going for one last bike ride. He spent 35 years, more than half his life, raising money for cancer research via the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), primarily as a Heavy Hitter and ultimately raising over a quarter of a million dollars. Making a lot of friends along the way, he rode in the PMC as a member of both Team Lick Cancer and Ocean State Cancer Crushers.
My dad loved cycling more than anything - except for doing good and trying to leave the world in a better place than he found it. He cycled from one end of the United States to another, he brought his bicycle with him on work trips around the globe, and he co-led and grew a charity cycling event in my hometown. My dad mentored kids and younger riders and tried to share the love of cycling with as many people as possible. He was especially dedicated to the PMC, and was proud to wear the Living Proof title after beating bladder cancer. He joked throughout my life about when his pager went off during the PMC because my mom went to the hospital in labor with me. Her labor took so long that he could have finished the ride!
The best way I can think of to honor his memory is to encourage you to make a difference. Whether you ride yourself, donate, volunteer, or just cheer these cyclists on, find something you can do and do it. And to my dad’s fellow cyclists: ride on, baby…
-Alex (offspring), Tyler (son) and Laura (wife) Spear
