2024 - this will be my 2nd PMC ride.

Last year I rode the 50 mile PMC ride while on cancer therapy pills- quite comfortably. This year I'll attempt to ride for 2 days from Wellesley to Provincetown, MA. on August 3 and 4 for a distance is about 167 miles! To read about my 1st ride a year ago and why I did this please see the 2023 section below. UPDATE: I messed up my back (probably sacroiliac joint issues from moving furniture) and was not able to jpi the 2 day ride. So, I changed my status to virtual so when better I hope to make up the miles - but in smaller increments.

I have a lot to be thankful for. The MAJIC triall I'm on will now continue until next spring. While my bone marrow CLL cell count didn't make the cutoff (less than 10 cancerous cells out of a million) last May to end the trial, mu cnacerous B cells were reduced by about 99.5% and all my blood tests and lymph nodes were NORMAL. There is a lot to be thankful for. Not, he least of which is Dana Farber and the Flames (Fast Legs and Minds End Suffering) team composed of doctors at Dana Farber, and fheir support staff, patients, families and friends and my fellow Living Proof riders and support from home. My steady diet of healthy food, practicing Kundalini Yoga, skiing, biking and being with our sons and threir grandchildren has kept me young and fit.

Cancer's impact has been felt across all demographics and the PMC provides a way for riders to do something about it: raise funds, celebrate life, remember those we've lost, and bring us closer by the mile to a cure.

Without the funds raised by the Pan Mass Challenge supporting their research efforts my travels might have been significantly different. I just heard that Dana Farber was planning to lay off research staff during Covid crisis Well, that didn't happen because donations from PMC contributions kept the lights and research on. Never did I dream that part of the 34 years of PMC donations, which now is just over $1,000,000,000 (that's a billion) would directly benefit me. Please join me and donate what you can.

This years ride is dedicated to my beloved sister, Isabelle (Izzy), who recently passed.

Thanks kindly,

Joe 

2023- my first Pan Mass Challenge Ride

As you may know I love to exercise. Riding my bike not only provides exercise and comradery but now it will help fund cancer research at one of the leading cancer centers in the world. That is Dana Farber Cancer Center, the Boston Childrens Hospital and the Jimmy Fund.. So, how did I come to this point in my life?

My younger sister, Roz, passed from breast cancer and my mother, Molly, had Alzheimer's for 10 terrible years. About 5 years ago I volunteered for an experimental trial involving a new Alzheimer's drug (which just received FDA approved). During the comprehensive screening I failed due to my white blood cell count being too high. My PCP referred me to a hematologist who ordered tests. The result was... CLL - chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

So, how did I be so lucky to be 1 of 20,000 people per year that contracts this disease? Health statistics show that twice as many cases have their heritage from eastern European Ashkinazi people of Jewish descent - that's me and my family. The statistics also show a reasonably high correlation with people that use Monsanto's RoundUp which contains the chemical glyphosate. I used this defoliant on poison ivy for several years. There was no health warning on the container and it is still on the shelves today despite Monsanto paying out over a billion $$$ in settlements. Finally, glyphosate for residential use is being removed for sale.

10 years ago the treatment for CLL was chemotherapy and radiation with its attendant nasty side effects. In 2020 the Nobel prize for chemistry was awarded to Dr. Jennifer Doudna for creating CRISPR, which is the basis for gene editing. Around 5 years ago the first CLL targeted therapies were tested and approved by the FDA. Since then there have been significant improvements. I qualified for the Phase 3 (last trial before FDA approval) MAJIC trial at Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston. The arm of the trial I'm on has a very promising combination of two drugs. After about 13 months it is expected I will have less than 10 out of a million cells detectable cancer cells in my bone marrow. After just a week on the first drug the bulging lymph nodes in my neck, spleen and other areas have disappeared! And this happened with almost no side effects! Just 10 weeks later my blood counts were almost normal again with no side effects! As the experts say, my exercise regimen may well have something to do with this. Now I hear that a good diet is also important.

I have been taking both targeted therapy drugs ramping up in concentration to just after the Pan Mass Challenge ride (August 6th) in which I hope to participate riding 50 miles from Wellesley to Foxboro and back. The results from my Dana Farber treatment was undoubtedly aided by practicing Kundulini yoga and a very healthy diet that Maureen prepares.

I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last year, and every year, 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure. Over the years the PMC donated over 900 million $$$. I'm joining this fund raiser for myself and others that may follow me. If you are so inclined please join me in the fund raising.

Take care and stay healthy!

Joe