It's time for the annual Pan-Mass Challenge!! This year's PMC ride has been Re-imagined with participants riding their own self-defined routes, or virtual rides, all while maintaining the commitment to PMC's mission: to eradicate cancer. The COVID-19 pandemic may have changed everything, including the PMC, yet cancer hasn't taken a pause, patients are still receiving treatment and families are still learning of a loved one's cancer diagnosis, my family and I among them.

Shortly after the pandemic began I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was fortunate to be able to benefit from the tremendous strides which have been made in cancer research and  I received cutting edge treatment at one of our nation's leading cancer treatment hospitals. Now, fourteen months later, I am healthy and I will ride in this year's PMC's reimagined ride. I will ride recognizing I benefited from the kindness and charity of others. I will ride understanding the demand for cancer research still remains crucial and  cancer research requires financial backing. I will ride knowing 100% of every dollar raised by PMC goes directly to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research and treatment. I will ride in memory of my wife, Debbie.  This June will mark 6 years since we lost Debbie to cancer. It's still difficult for me to understand how someone so healthy, active and full of life could be stricken with such a terrible disease. Deb was the last person my family and I thought would ever have to face cancer, let alone the rare, aggressive kind with which she was diagnosed. Deb, the brave, determined, (stubborn!!) person we all knew and loved faced her diagnosis head on, and fought hard every day for a year. I will ride remembering while significant progress has been made in cancer research we cannot quit until cancer has been conquered.

I will ride this year's PMC for many reasons. If you find yourself in a position to be able to help financially please visit my PMC donation page: https://donate.pmc.org/GD0096.

I will ride in gratitude for your generosity and support.

Gary