This will be my 13th year riding the PMC. Every year when registration comes up, I almost always vacillate as to whether this year will be the year that I do not ride and that I volunteer instead. The excuses start rolling around in my head - I am a mom now and it is hard to find time to train, the logistics on the Cape that weekend are a pain, I am out of shape and I am always looking for my bike 2 days before the ride and it is always a slog, and I feel like I ask the same people to donate every year and how can I hit them up again? Then I tell myself that all of those thoughts are just BS and that the PMC is not about the bike, training, coordinating or me feeling good tbh.

The PMC for me is about remembering. It's about remembering that

• there is hope for people who are battling cancer and they can't do it without the progress from research.
• the people we lost far too soon, deserve to be honored and their stories shared as much as possible to keep their memories alive in us.
• Mercer would never let me live it down if I threw in the towel. I swear he would find a way to haunt and taunt me and he would say, Come on - it's one day, you can do one day. I will train with you - easy. Miss you, Mercer. Stay filthy.
• life is fragile yet people are strong. We can do so much when we put our minds to it.
• I actually LOVE PMC weekend and to just sign-up already.
• The pride my aunt had 13 years ago when I told her that I was fundraising and bought a bike to participate in this ride to support Dana Farber because of everything they had done to support her. I can still hear her voice that day Rosa and I called her from the car after checking in for the ride on year 1. I miss her voice, her hugs, her pie and her heart.
• priorities - health, family, friendship and giving back are paramount.
• worrying about dumb shit like training rides, fundraising minimums and logistics are a waste of time; it always works out - 11 years of data to support it.
• we are role models to our children and teaching them how to be part of a community of support, hope nad healing.
• we do the best we can, together.
• Too many loved ones are still dying and I will do my part. The good ones seem to go early and I am over it.
• I will never forget and I will never give up.
• One day Millie will be my riding buddy.

100% of what you donate goes to cancer research. Want to ride with me? It's one of my favorite days of the year and I would love to have you join us.

In memory of Auntie Joanie, Mark Mercer, Betty Hayes, Janine Willox, Lucille Barbato, Michele's mama Marie, and Tom Conroy. I don't want to add another name to this list - please help me fight this disease.

In honor of our living proof that you can kick cancer's ass - Mike Monteiro, Sheila Bauer and Tom Whaley.

Thank you for your endless support.

Still at it, Danni xoxo