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Why do I ride....
Because I am greatful that I can...
Is training and riding for hours on end hard? Nope ! Not when I think about what family, friends, and children that we know have endured while fighting the toughest battle in their lives.
I am proud to be riding my 6th Pan Mass Challenge this summer! I wish that I could say that I do not know anyone that is battling, has battled or has lost the battle to cancer. Unfortunately this is not the case. Cancer does not discriminate and did not stop through the pandemic. Please help me to support The Jimmy Fund that continues to support our loved ones. 100% of the money raised goes directly to the Jimmy Fund.
Thank you for your continued donations and support!
MY PMC MEMORIES AND INSPIRATIONS
2022
2017
Why I ride..
While I am motivated daily by the miracle of my own children (that I refer to as my MGH miracles, who are now 12 and 9), I am equally motivated by individuals that I have known or met over the past few years that have battled, are currently battling or have lost their battles with cancer. These include former students of mine, parents of students as well as close friends and family. Sadly enough, the list is long.
In addition to those whom have encountered cancer one way or another, there are individuals that make a difference everyday at the Jimmy Fund that I am truly amazed by.
Four years ago, I took on my first Pan Mass in honor of Tim Burke who, at the time was 13 years old battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He and his mother, Mary, were instrumental in my fund raising efforts that year and have continued to support me over the years. When I asked Tim, if he could pick exactly where my fundraising efforts were to go at Dana Farber, he, without hesitation, asked that they go to a fund that supports Lisa Scherber’s programs at the Jimmy Fund.
Lisa Scherber, if you don’t know, is an amazing individual that brings smiles to children and teens at the Jimmy Fund everyday. If you haven’t heard of her, just look her up, she is otherwise known as the “Play Lady” at the Jimmy Fund. Tim cannot talk about Lisa and the effect that she (and her infectious laugh) had on him during his time at the Jimmy Fund.
In addition to her work at the Jimmy Fund clinic, Lisa is the founder of the PMC Team - ROAR (Reindeers on a Ride). Team ROAR raises funds for the several clinic events during the winter holiday season. The largest of these is the annual patient Christmas party held for all patients on active treatment and their families. This Christmas party/winter carnival is attended by over 800 patients and family members each year and is a very special few hours where kids get to be kids and not cancer patients. There is of course Santa with gifts for every child but there is so much more to the day. The event spreads over two floors of a Boston area hotel with games, arts & crafts, photo booths, jugglers, magicians, a petting zoo (yes, a petting a zoo inside a hotel!) and train rides. But mostly importantly, all this activity is about the smiles. Smiles from kids, just being kids for a few hours and from their families smiling because their kids are happy and not thinking about their battle.
Lisa, in her role as Director of Patient & Families Programs for the Jimmy Fund clinic, knows how important these events are to provide some balance to families as they go through treatment. That is one reason why TEAM ROAR was founded, to make sure events like the Christmas party/ carnival and others events in the clinic can happen. TEAM ROAR is the only PMC team that dedicates all funds raised directly to patients and families today. There are so many parts to the battle against cancer and the PMC helps across all fronts, which is great and so needed, TEAM ROAR has chosen to focus on this one part.
My family and I had the honor of attending this Christmas party two years ago. It was an incredible experience to know that we took part in making that day special for so many.
Please consider helping me once again in contributing to this amazing team. 100% of my fundraising efforts will go directly to TEAM ROAR. Thank you for all of you support!
2015
This will be my third and final Pan Mass Challenge. I am very excited to have my husband Mark join me this year as we do the 192 mile, 2 day ride from Sturbridge MA to Provincetown, MA. This year I will be once again riding for the children at the Jimmy Fund helping to put smiles on their faces during the toughest battle of their lives. 100% of my fundraising goes directly to the Pediatric Activity Account. Thank you for your support!
2014
This year I am honored to be riding in my second Pan Mass Challenge. In Aug. 2013, as I approached the 2 day ride, I thought at the end I would feel a great deal of accomplishment in being able to finish the 160 mile ride. I quickly realized that the ride was never about me, it was a journey beyond words that was all about the families and individuals affected by cancer that this ride touches every year.
This year I have chosen to specifically designate by fundraising efforts to a very special group at The Jimmy Fund. This team of amazing people, under the guides of Lisa Scherber, spend every day making a Jimmy Fund patient smile.
A typical patient’s day inside the Jimmy Fund Clinic can be anywhere from 3-8 hours as they receive their treatments.In this time this team’s role is to assist with the distraction and make this day more bearable. Your donation will allow them to take care of a wide range of activities that will keep our patients of all ages occupied.
They know that this is the worst time in every family’s life, and this team wants to be able to provide memories that when they look back on this time, there were some times of laughter & happy memories.
With these funds they are able to provide in clinic activities such as painting, crafts, games, as well as amazing outside events to include the entire family.
This Patient activity account allows them to do everything possible to create memories and smiles for so many special children treated at the Jimmy Fund clinic.
To read more about this team:
https://www.jimmyfund.org/abo/personalprofiles/lisa-scherber.html
Thank you so much for your support!
Pan Mass 2013
There is nothing that compares to the helpless feeling that a parent feels when their child is in the intensive care unit. There is nothing that you can do and death is a real possibility. This feeling returns instantaneously upon hearing of another child or family going through the same set of circumstances.
October 2004, our daughter Kielan was born and had some complications. My husband Mark and I experienced a miracle in the true sense of the word . We witnessed the power of medicine paired with the precarious nature of life. This has compelled me to support others who face serious illness and the organization that help parents and families through the process. It is the continued commitment and courage of so many in my life, especially the Burke family that now inspire me to ride in this year’s Pan Mass Challenge.
I can clearly remember the first time I met Timmy and his mother, Mary. Tim is a 13- year old member of the Merrimack Hockey team through “Team Impact” and has bravely battled Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia for the last two years. My friend
Heather and I were sitting pool side in Orono, Maine (My husband’s Merrimack College Hockey team was playing Maine in the playoffs) and Mary Burke sat down with us. We were watching Tim navigate his way around the pool, having some difficulty due to the effects of the chemo. Bones had become brittle, and Tim was just finishing up his first year of a two-year therapy. The chemo was taking its toll.
Long story short, Mary began to share with us that she was very nervous to make the trip all the way to Maine for fear that Tim could get sick and were so far from Dana Farber. The problem- he really wanted to be there more than anywhere else and being a part of this team was proving to be his most successful therapy. Tim’s disease makes everyone around it aware of how fragile life is, and Mary was no different. As we discussed Tim’s weak state, Mary then turned to me and said that she knew that they could make this trip because if something were to go wrong, she could simply make one phone call to the Jimmy Fund. That one phone call would insure a safe return to Boston & Dana Farber.
Hearing about the role the Jimmy Fund played in easing Mary’s concern really drove home for me that this organization not only provides some of the best medical care in the country, the most recent advances in research, but provides something unusual for most cancer patients- normalcy.
From that moment forward, I have learned so much more about the Jimmy Fund from Mary and Tim’s experience and continue to be amazed by what the Jimmy Fund does for families battling cancer. This makes me think about all of the friends and family that I know that have been affected by cancer. Many treated at Dana Farber and through the Jimmy Fund as well as other amazing institutions throughout the United States.
My list of people including the Burke family, affected by cancer is too long than I like to think about. Whether it is a dear friend, friend of a friend, my family and extended family, this is for you.
My hopes and dreams are that fewer people will have to suffer the heartache, and more will experience the miracle of life that we left Mass General Hospital with in 2004. In the meantime, I will do what I can to help support the Jimmy Fund in the hopes of making everyone’s experience with cancer a little bit easier.
Why do I ride....
Because I am greatful that I can...
Is training and riding for hours on end hard? Nope ! Not when I think about what family, friends, and children that we know have endured while fighting the toughest battle in their lives.
I am proud to be riding my 6th Pan Mass Challenge this summer! I wish that I could say that I do not know anyone that is battling, has battled or has lost the battle to cancer. Unfortunately this is not the case. Cancer does not discriminate and did not stop through the pandemic. Please help me to support The Jimmy Fund that continues to support our loved ones. 100% of the money raised goes directly to the Jimmy Fund.
Thank you for your continued donations and support!
MY PMC MEMORIES AND INSPIRATIONS
2022
2017
Why I ride..
While I am motivated daily by the miracle of my own children (that I refer to as my MGH miracles, who are now 12 and 9), I am equally motivated by individuals that I have known or met over the past few years that have battled, are currently battling or have lost their battles with cancer. These include former students of mine, parents of students as well as close friends and family. Sadly enough, the list is long.
In addition to those whom have encountered cancer one way or another, there are individuals that make a difference everyday at the Jimmy Fund that I am truly amazed by.
Four years ago, I took on my first Pan Mass in honor of Tim Burke who, at the time was 13 years old battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. He and his mother, Mary, were instrumental in my fund raising efforts that year and have continued to support me over the years. When I asked Tim, if he could pick exactly where my fundraising efforts were to go at Dana Farber, he, without hesitation, asked that they go to a fund that supports Lisa Scherber’s programs at the Jimmy Fund.
Lisa Scherber, if you don’t know, is an amazing individual that brings smiles to children and teens at the Jimmy Fund everyday. If you haven’t heard of her, just look her up, she is otherwise known as the “Play Lady” at the Jimmy Fund. Tim cannot talk about Lisa and the effect that she (and her infectious laugh) had on him during his time at the Jimmy Fund.
In addition to her work at the Jimmy Fund clinic, Lisa is the founder of the PMC Team - ROAR (Reindeers on a Ride). Team ROAR raises funds for the several clinic events during the winter holiday season. The largest of these is the annual patient Christmas party held for all patients on active treatment and their families. This Christmas party/winter carnival is attended by over 800 patients and family members each year and is a very special few hours where kids get to be kids and not cancer patients. There is of course Santa with gifts for every child but there is so much more to the day. The event spreads over two floors of a Boston area hotel with games, arts & crafts, photo booths, jugglers, magicians, a petting zoo (yes, a petting a zoo inside a hotel!) and train rides. But mostly importantly, all this activity is about the smiles. Smiles from kids, just being kids for a few hours and from their families smiling because their kids are happy and not thinking about their battle.
Lisa, in her role as Director of Patient & Families Programs for the Jimmy Fund clinic, knows how important these events are to provide some balance to families as they go through treatment. That is one reason why TEAM ROAR was founded, to make sure events like the Christmas party/ carnival and others events in the clinic can happen. TEAM ROAR is the only PMC team that dedicates all funds raised directly to patients and families today. There are so many parts to the battle against cancer and the PMC helps across all fronts, which is great and so needed, TEAM ROAR has chosen to focus on this one part.
My family and I had the honor of attending this Christmas party two years ago. It was an incredible experience to know that we took part in making that day special for so many.
Please consider helping me once again in contributing to this amazing team. 100% of my fundraising efforts will go directly to TEAM ROAR. Thank you for all of you support!
2015
This will be my third and final Pan Mass Challenge. I am very excited to have my husband Mark join me this year as we do the 192 mile, 2 day ride from Sturbridge MA to Provincetown, MA. This year I will be once again riding for the children at the Jimmy Fund helping to put smiles on their faces during the toughest battle of their lives. 100% of my fundraising goes directly to the Pediatric Activity Account. Thank you for your support!
2014
This year I am honored to be riding in my second Pan Mass Challenge. In Aug. 2013, as I approached the 2 day ride, I thought at the end I would feel a great deal of accomplishment in being able to finish the 160 mile ride. I quickly realized that the ride was never about me, it was a journey beyond words that was all about the families and individuals affected by cancer that this ride touches every year.
This year I have chosen to specifically designate by fundraising efforts to a very special group at The Jimmy Fund. This team of amazing people, under the guides of Lisa Scherber, spend every day making a Jimmy Fund patient smile.
A typical patient’s day inside the Jimmy Fund Clinic can be anywhere from 3-8 hours as they receive their treatments.In this time this team’s role is to assist with the distraction and make this day more bearable. Your donation will allow them to take care of a wide range of activities that will keep our patients of all ages occupied.
They know that this is the worst time in every family’s life, and this team wants to be able to provide memories that when they look back on this time, there were some times of laughter & happy memories.
With these funds they are able to provide in clinic activities such as painting, crafts, games, as well as amazing outside events to include the entire family.
This Patient activity account allows them to do everything possible to create memories and smiles for so many special children treated at the Jimmy Fund clinic.
To read more about this team:
https://www.jimmyfund.org/abo/personalprofiles/lisa-scherber.html
Thank you so much for your support!
Pan Mass 2013
There is nothing that compares to the helpless feeling that a parent feels when their child is in the intensive care unit. There is nothing that you can do and death is a real possibility. This feeling returns instantaneously upon hearing of another child or family going through the same set of circumstances.
October 2004, our daughter Kielan was born and had some complications. My husband Mark and I experienced a miracle in the true sense of the word . We witnessed the power of medicine paired with the precarious nature of life. This has compelled me to support others who face serious illness and the organization that help parents and families through the process. It is the continued commitment and courage of so many in my life, especially the Burke family that now inspire me to ride in this year’s Pan Mass Challenge.
I can clearly remember the first time I met Timmy and his mother, Mary. Tim is a 13- year old member of the Merrimack Hockey team through “Team Impact” and has bravely battled Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia for the last two years. My friend
Heather and I were sitting pool side in Orono, Maine (My husband’s Merrimack College Hockey team was playing Maine in the playoffs) and Mary Burke sat down with us. We were watching Tim navigate his way around the pool, having some difficulty due to the effects of the chemo. Bones had become brittle, and Tim was just finishing up his first year of a two-year therapy. The chemo was taking its toll.
Long story short, Mary began to share with us that she was very nervous to make the trip all the way to Maine for fear that Tim could get sick and were so far from Dana Farber. The problem- he really wanted to be there more than anywhere else and being a part of this team was proving to be his most successful therapy. Tim’s disease makes everyone around it aware of how fragile life is, and Mary was no different. As we discussed Tim’s weak state, Mary then turned to me and said that she knew that they could make this trip because if something were to go wrong, she could simply make one phone call to the Jimmy Fund. That one phone call would insure a safe return to Boston & Dana Farber.
Hearing about the role the Jimmy Fund played in easing Mary’s concern really drove home for me that this organization not only provides some of the best medical care in the country, the most recent advances in research, but provides something unusual for most cancer patients- normalcy.
From that moment forward, I have learned so much more about the Jimmy Fund from Mary and Tim’s experience and continue to be amazed by what the Jimmy Fund does for families battling cancer. This makes me think about all of the friends and family that I know that have been affected by cancer. Many treated at Dana Farber and through the Jimmy Fund as well as other amazing institutions throughout the United States.
My list of people including the Burke family, affected by cancer is too long than I like to think about. Whether it is a dear friend, friend of a friend, my family and extended family, this is for you.
My hopes and dreams are that fewer people will have to suffer the heartache, and more will experience the miracle of life that we left Mass General Hospital with in 2004. In the meantime, I will do what I can to help support the Jimmy Fund in the hopes of making everyone’s experience with cancer a little bit easier.
| 2025 | $0.00 | PMC |
| $640.00 | PMC Winter Cycle | |
| 2024 | $0.00 | PMC |
| $60.00 | PMC Winter Cycle | |
| 2023 | $4,000.50 | Wellesley to Bourne (1-Day, Sat) |
| 2022 | $6,000.00 | Wellesley to Bourne (1-Day, Sat) |
| 2021 | $25.00 | PMC Fundraiser |
| 2020 | $0.00 | PMC Volunteer |
| 2017 | $4,875.00 | Wellesley to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2016 | $100.00 | PMC Rider |
| 2015 | $4,500.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2014 | $6,085.00 | Wellesley to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2013 | $5,265.00 | Wellesley to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
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Heather Dennehy