My motivation and goal for riding in my 1st ever Pan Mass Challenge on August 3rd, 2019, will be to honor the memory of my mom, and the many family members and friends who have fought or lost their battle with cancer over the years. 

Secondly, I will ride this race with my extended family, my brothers on the Boston Fire Department. The team’s moto is “No One Fights Alone”, and I am honored to pedal alongside each of these men. Each of us has our own personal motivation and goal, but collectively we ride together to support a particular area in the fight against cancer, Occupational Cancer. 

More specifically, I ride with Team Boston Fire because although the national averages are terrifying, they are far worse when it comes to Occupational Cancer. Every three weeks a new Boston Firefighter is diagnosed with cancer. Together, on Team Boston Fire, we ride to highlight the effects of occupational cancer, to better equip our medical experts on the frontlines, to assist those currently battling cancer, and to commemorate those that lost their battle with cancer. 

By Participating in the PMC, I know we are making a difference in the fight against cancer. In 2016 there were an estimated 15.5 million cancer survivors in the US, and that number is expected to rise to 20.3 million by 2026 (NCI). Finally, I ride because the PMC is the number one athletic fundraising event in the world, contributing well over $600,000,000 since it originated in 1980, with 100% of rider raised donations going directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 

Please consider any size donation, big or small that will help me reach my goal total of $5000.

Thank you and God Bless,

Jerry Powers