MY 20TH YEAR PARTICIPATING IN THE PMC WAS DEDICATED TO MY DAD, BUDDY GITLIN, HE WAS THE BEST OF THE BEST AND MY LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WITHOUT HIM. REST IN PEACE DADDY, WE ARE BACK ON THE ROAD RAISING MONEY TO FIGHT THIS EVIL DISEASE. 2024 PMC HERE WE COME! I LOVE AND MISS YOU SO MUCH!!
This has been a tough spring for re-entry to riding. The weather wasn't so cooperative and emotionally I didn't feel ready...we just eclipsed the 1 year anniversary of my dad's diagnosis, his unveiling is one week from today (June 30th) and the memories of the following 9 weeks are haunting...thinking about doing another PMC without him is devasting. BUT - he wouldn't want it any other way! TEAM PERRY REACHED ITS 10 MILLION DOLLAR MILESTONE last year and I know he was cheering us all on! But, we still have so much work to do! So it is time to power through and get my caboose on the bike!
I am thrilled to report that this year along with Michael, my sister Melissa and myself, my son Matthew and Marlee’s boyfriend Matt are riding the PMC. Marlee, Talia, Talia’s friend Hallie, and Matt’s girlfriend Liv are all volunteering to support the riders at the Mass Maritime campus which is the location of the first days finish of the PMC. To say this is a family affair is an understatement and after the passing of my dad, the passing of Michael’s beautiful mom Adrienne, this journey will NEVER end until we find a cure for cancer.
If you have supported me in the past...you probably don't need to read any further. If you haven't - here is my story and how I got on this journey and why I remain so committed to the cause. As many of you know, my sisters first husband Perry passed away in 1999 after a short battle with cancer of the small bowel. It is hard to believe that it was 25 years ago, July 4th weekend that Perry and my sister sat in his hospital room to learn of his diagnosis – the entire family was devastated. Melissa, Perry, Michael and I were married in a double wedding less than 2 years and he was the picture of health! We knew it would be a hard road but Perry was a fighter and we had every reason to believe he would beat it. Four months later, he was gone. It is still unthinkable that Perry, a marathon runner and tri-athlete, lost his life at the age of 32.
Perry gave us some very special and significant gifts during his life and with his passing. First, he gave everyone he met his passion for life and his love and when you are loved you can do ANYTHING! Second, he gave us his incredible spirit of competition and drive and therefore this mission has transcended all aspects of our lives. Third, he gave my sister permission to love again, and this has obviously meant everything to me and my family. Melissa is married to an incredible man Joshua Jacoby and has two beautiful boys Max (20) and Ryan (17) Our family takes this “ride” and mission VERY seriously and without losing Perry, I would not be completing my 21th year (it’s 8 years for Mike) riding in the PMC and my sister would not be leading Team Perry which has raised cumulatively 10 million dollars! My sister is an absolute ROCK STAR! It is no small feat to manage a team of 50-70 riders who raise hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
This year, Team Perry will once again be paired with a Pedal Partner. Reina is a beautiful 16-year-old young woman who became a master chef and baker during her months at home during the pandemic! She became our Pedal Partner in 2018 after being diagnosed with B-cell ALL, a form of childhood leukemia. After battling for 2 years Reina was in remission for almost 2 years but sadly the cancer came back in 2021. Our team supported Reina as she underwent a bone marrow transplant which forced her back into strict quarantine for 6 months! Finally, she has the all clear! Over 2 years since her transplant and she is cancer free. Reina's family is so grateful to be part of the PMC family and to have been paired with Team Perry - and I think, what do we do? we just pedal our bikes. But then I think of how those pedal strokes translate to dollars, and how those dollars have funded and will continue to fund the salaries of some incredibly brilliant Fellows who've made enormous contributions to the research and treatment at Dana-Farber.
We have supported many amazing doctors over the past several years and in 2017 our 2005 Fellow was named the new Director of the Gastrointestincal Cancer Center at Dana Farber! If this isn't proof of how our fundraising has made a difference, I don't know what is!! Our 2024 fellow has proven to be just as impressive as his predecessors! Dr. Rishi Surana is a clinical investigator and translational researcher with a focus on how the tumor microenvironment influences outcomes and responses to various anti- cancer therapies. He sees patients with all types of gastrointestinal cancers, and he is deeply invested in their ongoing care.
Ok ... so here it comes. Please GIVE and please know that no amount is too small, or too large J I really mean that.
They've made it easy - click the Donate to My Ride button to the right and help us make a difference in the fight against cancer. If you would prefer to donate by check - please make it payable to PMC-Jimmy Fund and send it to my home at 9 Vincent Lane Armonk, NY 10504
With incredible gratitude,
Jocelyn
P.S. To learn more about our impact check us out at teamperrypmc.com
P.S. check out our Team Page at http://www.pmc.org/TT0046
