Ten years ago, I drank thePMC Kool-Aid.  

I rode my first PMC in 2009 with Kim and Rob, two friends from high school who had ridden for many years already.  I loved it.  And then I moved to Haiti a few weeks later and immersed myself in that beautiful work - including supporting my school community there through the earthquake and its aftermath.  In the years that followed, I kept up with my cycling habit, but the fundraising bar for PMC was so high, so I didn't ride PMC again. But I never forgot it.   

Then in 2013 I recnnected with the PMC through Liz, my infusion nurse at MGH who had the NERVE to miss one of my chemotherapy infusions because she was at the PMC volunteering in the medical tent.  That fall, when chemo was finally over after almost five months, I knew I would jump back on the PMC train.  

I met team Forza-G on the internet (what could possibly go wrong?) and have ridden alongise that new family of weirdos in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.  Well actually, in 2016 I was broken due to my recent bike crash, so I didn't actually ride that year.  But it still counts!  

I keep riding because I love it.  I'd be lying if I didn't lead with that.  It's my favorite weekend of the year.  

And it's the best weekend of the year because I get to do a thing that I love with people that I love knowing that it all  MATTERS deeply ro real people.  Today.  Right now.  Near and far.  People you know and people you don't know.  

Everyone has a cancer story - someone they know who received the terrifying diagnosis and fought - in their own way - from that first moment until forever or until they couldn't fight anymore.  For me the cancer stories that I carry as I ride are always those of the young people I have known, and their families, who have been forced into this terrible fight. 

Elizzbeth

George

Damone

Miguel

And this year especially ... Mason.  Our team has ridden with Mason and his family in our hearts for years, and this year Mason is in the fight of his fight-filled young life.  This year we ride for Mason because that's what we can do to back up our prayers and support and the love that we show in other ways.  We can ride our butts off and raise buckets and buckets of money for researchers and caregivers at Dana Farber.  

As the Captian said ... we're gonna pile it on until the scienctists, doctors and nurses tell us they don't need our money anymore.  In the meantime .... can't stop.  won't stop. 

My Links

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance

Mass General Cancer Center

What we talk about when we talk about cancer

MyLifeline Blog

Team Forza G

Spaghetti for Breakfast