Poulin PMC – The Last Hurrah - Final Sandra and Friends Ride - Pan Mass Challenge 2024

My Last Official PMC Ride – We ride for Harry Taylor again!

As many of you know, it’s been a bumpy road to the PMC over the last 4 years. Covid years. Moving to Rye NH. Last year testing for Covid the day before the PMC and having to do the PMC miles here and around the Seacoast after the PMC.

This will be my last year doing the PMC. Sixteen full years starting in 2008. 13 years riding. We raised $219,360 together so far. My goal is still $250,000 so hopefully we can go out with a bang and raise the $30,640 this year to accomplish the goal of $250,000 we set out for in 2008 in dedication to my loving mother Sandra and her old and new friends. This will be my last fundraising letter so let’s go out with a bang. Let’s try and reach in and dig as deep as we can knowing this is our swan song. Let’s reach that $30,000 target.

Sandra and Friends Ride has always been about my mother, Sandra, and all the people we know who have succumbed to or are fighting cancer. Sandra ended her battle 19 years ago but lives with us as we do this ride together every year. She would be so thankful and proud of her team.

This will be my last fundraising letter so let’s go out with a bang. Let’s try and reach in and dig as deep as we can knowing this is our swan song. Let’s reach that $30,000 target. We have a month so let’s rock it one last time.

I cannot express the joy of riding in the PMC. Our great teams – Team Jean from Wayland and Team ACT and the Tarnell Family. Sandra smiles down knowing we are making the world a better place.

We ride this ride for my friend Harry Taylor who continues to fight the fight. We tried to ride for harry last year but Covid struck so we try again this year.

Remember, I would like to hear about your inspirational stories of how cancer has impacted you and your family so we can share these with all Sandra’s Friends. These stories inspire us and keep us moving. Please send along and let me know if you would like me to dedicate a ribbon to someone special. We will attach the special ribbon to my bike for the whole PMC Ride as Sandra’s Friends. Sandra now has 77 friends.

Thanks everyone. My goal is $30,640 this year and to help us reach our goal of $250,000.

You can donate again this year here http://profile.pmc.org/DP0134. Or you can send checks made out to The Jimmy Fund – PMC to my address.

David Poulin

96 Pioneer Road

Rye, NH 03870

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Past Ride Dedications

Sandra Poulin. Jim Silverman. Tom Tilson Sr. Andy Tarnell. Jerome and Kerstin Phifer. My friend Ray My Donors 2019 Volunteers Harry Taylor

Sandra’s Friends

Bernard Pomroy Agnes Pomroy Cindy Jones Hawkins Kerstin Phifer Jerry Phifer Maxine Wilber Helen Keough Bill Keough Bill Holtshouser Carl Jacobson Nick Harrington Ruth Laux Judy Clark Barbara Hunt Lorraine Carvahlo Dennis McCarthy Hal Wilkins Phil Nadeau Monroe Hirsch Matt Pooler Peter Lagasse Barbara McKenney Michael O'Halloran Anita and Angeline Truijens Cecilia Enos Irene Britt Maureen Carroll Patrick Carroll Pat Dyer Jeff Tilley Jane Robert Jean Champeon Mavis Pooler Jackie Dupuis Jennifer Long Margaret Sevey Jane Roberts Jackie Messler Bill Williams Graig Batson Phil Jacobson Tom Tilson Jim Silverman Joe Bennett Ron Boynton Ed Guiski Christian Nickerson Gary Hibbard Tracy Hibbard Kasprzak John Goodwin Jackie Goodwin Andy Tarnell Courtney Jones My Friend Ray – 2017 Dedication Gus Bizanos Frances Currier Darrell Salisbury Johnnie Goodwin Jodi Lea Goodwin Evan Karyn Rhonda Lewis Kerry Adam MB ES Bob Howe Harry Taylor Roselle Pomroy MacDonald Jane Bennett Gilbert Scott Johnson Roz Gabrilouitz Ralph Record Carole Volman Bill Dempsey Sherry Hooker Laurie Kimball

You can donate again this year here http://profile.pmc.org/DP0134. Or you can send checks made out to The Jimmy Fund – PMC to my address.

David Poulin

96 Pioneer Road

Rye, NH 03870

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2024 Ride Dedication Harry Taylor – Another Miracle!

Last year I dedicated my ride to Harry Taylor. Harry is still fighting the fight and recently went on a once in a lifetime Alaska cruise. It's so great to see him be able to do this cruise with his family. He is one tough guy and we will actually ride for him this year.

Harry has been a friend of mine since I was a young boy. He was the adult when I met him. I was the boy. He’s about 15 years older than me. He came from New Hampshire to Maine to marry Peggy Ellms. I was probably 7 or 8 years old, and he was in his early 20’s. He moved to central Maine near where I grew up and met my father Ray through the Ellms family and their many hunting experiences in Ripley Maine. My brothers and I were always around Harry in some form whether it was at the camps on Ripley Pond or as we grew into young men and he was called to a high school party in a field as Deputy Sheriff to tell us we had to go home or when we were old enough to join the hunting crew which he led for so many years or as we grew into adults and became his neighbor in Ripley. I’ve known Harry for over 50 years. My friend Harry.

Harry is a dedicated husband to Peggy and their two boys Mitch and Kirk. He was a hard worker. He is an avid outdoorsman. Hunter. Trapper. Fisherman. He taught me so much about the outdoors. Oh, could Harry tell a story. One of the best. Animated. Funny. Hysterical actually. I cannot tell how many times I’ve been bent over laughing as he was telling stories at the hunting camp. He could tell the same story many times and it got better every time. Always a good neighbor and friend. He would be there whenever you needed him to help. He was there whatever it was.

In April of 2021, he was diagnosed with acute leukemia. The doctors told him if he did nothing, he would be dead in two weeks. The doctor said if he did everything she told him to do he had two years and anything after that would be a blessing. He was immediately given several blood transfusions and started his chemotherapy. Harry told me it kicked his butt. He was tired and sore all the time. Lost all sorts of taste for things. Harry did everything the doctors told him to do however painful or uncomfortable. He was blood tested every two weeks. His white blood cell count was still very low. Remember this was in the middle of Covid. Harry could not go anywhere. He had to where a mask all day.

Harry’s rock is his wife Peggy who has been right as his side through this journey. Making sure he stayed hydrated. Checking his temperature. I can’t imagine someone being alone through this process. Peggy is the rock that held Harry together during this trying time. Harry and Peggy prayed several times a day. Their relationship with their Lord carried both through this ordeal. When you have Peggy, and the Lord things might turn out okay. They continue to pray every day.

On May 15 th of this year, two years after diagnosis, Harry went to Lafayette Family Cancer Institute of Maine in Brewer Maine where he was being treated by Dr. Shruti Bhandari. Lafayette Family Cancer Institute is the only organization in Maine to become a member of the Dana Farber Cancer Care Collaborative. So, Lafayette collaborates very closely with their colleagues at Dana Farber. Dr. Bhandari sits Harry down and says he is a very rare man. He no longer has cancer. She tells Harry that she really doesn’t know what to do with him because this has never happened before. She in touch with Dana Farber and they tell her they have never seen anything like Harry. Harry still does his chemotherapy every eight weeks just to keep it from coming back. A miracle. Harry is no church going man, but he believes in his heart it was all of the prayers and that God answered them.

Harry cannot speak more highly of Lafayette. They must be good if they are part of Dana Farber. Harry could not have received better care in Maine from any other hospital. I can honestly say the PMC fundraising did have an impact on Harry through Lafayette and their affiliation with Dana Farber. People like Harry are positively impacted by the efforts of all the riders of the PMC as it sometimes goes beyond what you think.

I saw Harry a few weeks ago and talked to him about this ordeal. He looks great. His back is bothering him because he is old not because of cancer and the outdoors have taken their toll. He is in great spirits and, oh man, he can still tell a story.

Harry’s advice is NEVER give up because miracles do happen. God has blessed my friend.

This is why we do what we do!

You can donate again this year here http://profile.pmc.org/DP0134. Or you can send checks made out to The Jimmy Fund – PMC to my address.

David Poulin

96 Pioneer Road

Rye, NH 03870

Thank you all!