The first weekend of August is the most bittersweet weekend of our year. At sunrise on August 6th, I will embark on my 3rd PMC ride along with my husband, Kevin (his 23rd year, and on a tandem), along with over 6k other cyclists for the 192 miles over 2 days from Sturbridge to Provincetown Massachusetts. Though Covid has chaged many things in the last couple of years cancer did not take those years off and support is needed more than ever.
I ride in memory of Kevin's parents (both lost to cancer) and in honor of my stepmother who is living her 13th year, tumor-free, with stage 4 melanoma. After receiving a dire diagnosis, she participated in a T-cell clinical trial at Dana-Farber is she is living proof of the great work being done there. Additionally, both me and my mother are in a high-risk category for breast cancer so to say this household is fluent in cancer, is a sad understatement.
Previous rides were filled with moments of intense motivation to see so many lives affected by cancer. The bruised seat bones, numb feet, and torrential rains were tempered by an incredible sense of gratefulness to be part of this movement pedaling towards a world that could be cancer-free.
The PMC is the Jimmy Fund's/Dana-Farber's largest single donor - these funds are CRITICAL to continue life-saving research at the Farber, especially in this time of instability for government-funded medical research. 100% of rider-raised money goes directly to Dana-Farber. Thank you for supporting my ride and after 2 years off due to covid, I'm happy to be back in the saddle for 2022!
