Why I ride?

Next week, August 2nd I am riding in my 23rd Pan Mass Challenge

I ride for the survivors and for the patients who fight their battle with cancer every day.

For 23 years on the first weekend in August I ride a bike to raise money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. I have never finished first but I have finished last! That is too long of a story to tell. When I signed up, I told Mr. Flatley and he immediately challenged me not do just one year. Here I am 23 years later, Still Spinning my Legs!!

I ride because I can!

I ride for my co-worker who beats cancer every day! She shocked me last year with the news and now She is Living Proof!

I ride because I can!

One of the inspirational sights this weekend will be the survivors along the route cheering us on. The pedal partners water stop is tough to ride in and brings back deep memories. When I began 23 years ago my nephew Timothy O’Brien had just passed away 2 weeks prior to the ride at 5 years old from Osteosarcoma. Timmy used to say to me Uncle Joe just spin your legs! You’ll get there. When I hugged him, I had to be careful not to dislodge his port for chemotherapy. Timmy would say this is where their good medicine goes into my body and acts like Ninja Warriors beating up the cancer! NO 5-year-old should know what chemotherapy is or have a port in their chest.

I ride for John “Pickle” Donahue who passed way too young. I ride for my brother-in-law Martin Stewart who passed away five years ago from colon cancer. My brother-in-law used to drive me to the PMC on Saturday mornings, He was a major part of our fundraising when I began 23 years ago. Martin would help with the lunch for our team. He was part of our original group helping any way he could. I miss Martin every day.

I ride because I can!

I ride for the survivors who are living proof that our efforts work. There is much more to do but one mile at a time we will get there. My best friend Dave Ray was diagnosed 15 years ago with stage 4 colon cancer. He never gave up. He cheers me on every year. He is a survivor! I ride for the survivors, the fighters, #Cancer Sucks

I ride because I can!

I ride in memory of Christine Stec. Christine was a mom, wife, and dedicated Teacher at the Oakdale Elementary School in Dedham. Christine had a true spirit and was an inspiration for all of us. Her love of life and Fun is a continuing inspiration for all. Today is a good day to have a good day!

Every year we lose people we love, we grew up with, we work with, we see at the store or coffee shop, these are the people I ride for. An old friend is going thru treatment now, I ride for him. I ride because I can! ALL rider raised money goes directly to Dana Farber Institute for Cancer Research. The Pan Mass Challenge has raised over a billion dollars since 1980 for Dana Farber. The PMC raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the US

I have attached a link to my page and a donation of any amount is appreciated. It all goes to research! Thank you for reading this and being a part of my 2025 PMC!

https://profile.pmc.org/JF0110 100% of All proceeds go to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

I ride because I can!