July 30, 2020
Dear Friends and Family,
First and foremost I hope all of you, your family and friends are well.
Like a lot of events this year, the 41st Pan Mass Challenge will be unlike any other. This Saturday and Sunday August 1st and 2nd would have been the traditional ride however, as you may have guessed the PMC will not happen in traditional form due to COVID-19. Riders this year are participating by riding in their own personally created or reimagined PMC route without fundraising minimums. Our group of 4 riders (aka Team AAFA) came together in the spring and after much debate decided to ride the traditional route on the traditional weekend with social distancing and use of masks. We will ride without the traditional PMC support of volunteers, nourishing 20 mile water stops, and traffic assistance. Without the use of the Mass Maritime facility we will instead use my Dad’s house in Sandwich at the end of day 1 making our first day about 12.8 miles longer than usual or a total of 120 miles! At least day 2 will be a bit shorter or about 72 miles to Provincetown.
This will be ride 29th ride and my 22nd consecutive year of riding and PMC fundraising because while much progress has been made, cancer remains a constant in our lives.
Over the past number of years, I have written of family members and friends impacted by cancer who have mostly been treated successfully. This past year has been no different. Close friend Roseanne who sister sadly passed from breast cancer in the 90’s will herself be undergoing radiation treatment in August for breast cancer. Friend Robert who is a long time PMC rider and volunteer is recovering from recent prostate cancer. Long time friend and PMC alum and supporter Joe starts radiation treatment next month for prostate cancer. Friend and fellow PMC alum Gene Comella is being treated for multiple myeloma - Gene is the grandfather of Taylor Comella whom I profiled a few years ago and continues to do great. Long time friend and PMC supporter Paul’s sister Joyce had a 10 pound (yes 10 pound!) tumor removed recently and is undergoing chemotherapy treatments.
The list seemingly gets longer but the results are improving; the treatment and drugs are much more advanced and less invasive to every day life and proves the importance of fundraising to pay for the research. Survivor rates have steadily increased; from 1991-2015, survival has improved by 26%. Additionally, the level of care and the treatments have improved dramatically. In increasing numbers, a daily drug dose as opposed to the misery of radical treatments is the result of the research dollars you have donated.
Thank you again for all you have done over the years in supporting the PMC. You have made a huge difference. The Pan Mass Challenge is worldwide model community and athletic fundraising event that proves that community makes the most difference. Each year I am inspired by the cancer patients, survivors and the PMC riders, volunteers and supporters we connect with on the first weekend every August. One of the more inspiring signs along the route is that of a child survivor whose sign reads "I am 7 because of you - thank you". I have seen riders young and old (some 80+ years young); I have ridden along side riders with prosthetic legs and arms, others that appear to be new to riding long distances and would possibly be more comfortable walking instead of riding but they are there for the right reason. It is all so very, very inspiring.
Despite COVID-19, the PMC community has reimagined the PMC with each rider and or team doing their own thing. I encourage you to continue your support of the PMC as well as finding a way to support those in economic need due to COVID -19. I have chosen the Boston Food Bank and the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Plymouth (formerly Jordon Hospital) where I was born on this day in 1960. I am also participating in the Coast to Coast Cycle Challenge with a small group for a virtual ride across America to raise funds for multiple food pantries.
This year while we have no fundraising minimum requirements, I ask for you to continue your generous support of the PMC. Please use the link above or below to make a contribution to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute / Jimmy Fund. I am in for $2,000. Thank you for your ongoing support.
http://pmc.org/egifts/DB0002
Hope to see you soon, be safe, be smart, don’t let your guard down and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Sincerely,
Dave
Personal PMC facts and figures include:
Since 1990 28 rides of 192 miles in two days.
Ride number 29 - 2019 August 1 - Sturbridge to Sandwich - 120 miles, August 2 - Sandwich to Provincetown - 72 miles.
PMC miles after this ride = 5,568
Bicycles - 3
Bicycle helmets - at least 5
Bicycle riding accidents - 3 serious that could have been worse - luckily only bumps, scrapes and bruises, bike and helmet damage. (2 caused by human jerks and one from a scurrying chipmunk).
Flat tires average about 0-2 per year.
Training miles at least 22,000.
Total Funds raised for the Jimmy Fund after this year + $115,000!
Miracles - many surviving cancer patients cured of cancer because of your research funding. Thank you!
