Hey Friends and Family!
Despite my training basically year-round - I would like to say it was a breeze. But it really wasn’t. It was very hot on Saturday – in fact I saw 99F on my Garmin on Saturday afternoon as we rolled into the 100-mile rest stop in Wareham. Someone else saw 101F. But at least it was humid! Lol! And I am a winter person, my favorite season…
Your donations give us this gift of riding though. Without these generous donations, there would be no PMC, no new cures. Our team is on pace to meet our goal, and I am on pace too. With all my heart, my warmest thanks.
When I meet my goal, when our team meets its goal, and when the PMC meets its goal, we all win. We win today and tomorrow with the research and treatments our funds fund. It’s an amazing circle of support.
Sunday was much cooler, but our muscles were still screaming for more fluids (we couldn’t get enough in on Saturday). But of course, we finished at the Ptown Inn with our team. Cindy rode at the front leading us in with another cancer survivor and longtime friend – Bill Aalerud – AJ & Lace, Rosie, Ava and Ava’s parents Michele & Cyril Deluca-Verley were all there cheering so loud we could barely think. We had met up about a ½ mile back – made sure we had everyone we could at that witching hour of 12 Noon – and rolled, about 75+ strong! The crowd of finish line fans just loves it and we do too – big reward for the year and efforts. So worth it.
And, as we all know about hard goals, once they’re over, they’re over for that year, and somehow, you forget the pain and remember the gifts and gains.
Each year, on Saturday after the ride, there is a ‘Living Proof’ photo down by the Canal along with our FLAMES team shot. This is a photo of cancer survivors who are riding in the PMC. Cindy’s first year riding the PMC, (24 years ago), there were maybe 6 of them in the photo. She felt like such an anomaly. An oddity, living from cancer and riding the PMC. This year, there were many hundreds of people in the Living Proof photo. Being ‘Living Proof' has been normalized as part of life.
The number of people who live after a cancer diagnosis, like myself, has changed to most often now being a ‘chronic’ disease. When you see the shift over the years in actual humans showing up, it is a stunning shift. Yet, each year, I ride along folks who have just lost a loved one. They are riding with love, conviction and sadness for the ones that are currently battling or who have been lost.
Along the route were the humbling reminders of people sitting in lawn chairs holding signs for loved ones lost (my son, my grandson, my mother…. and children holding signs proudly, “I am 10 thanks to you”). It can’t help but grab you and is a stark reminder of why we all participate in giving and riding as we do. I wish it was easier to take pictures of these people while we rode – but it wouldn’t be safe. It’s remarkable. And in the heat too!
Thank you for hanging in with me and the FLAMES each year. Thank you for continuing with your support. I feel like the luckiest person in the world that I can complain about the heat and a sore bum. I can complain about sleeping under a table on a Saturday night in a 24-hour lit library, complain about porta potties, and laugh at my fellow new FLAME who dropped her phone into a porta potty. Yes, she retrieved her phone herself. I felt lucky to ride with Charlie Hale, our oldest son, on his first PMC ride. He kept an eye on me all day on Saturday (he was stronger than me) – and on Sunday, other than asking him to sweep so I know where all the FLAMES are for the team finish – I said, “Charlie, you go with the young fast FLAMES today – and he did!” He’s a very good son. He had a ball!
The PMC makes a difference; we are choosing to make a difference.
With your support - we ALL are able to make a difference.
Thank you for being part of TEAM FLAMES and for your unwavering support.
Just now hydrated…?? jd
