Wow, 2020 really happened in a big way, huh? With all the uncertainty, I feel so blessed to have people I love and care about come thus-far unscathed through the COVID-19 pandemic. I know for many this is not the case, and that this is a year full of social and economic unrest like we have not seen in my lifetime. For this reason I have elected to be sensitive and scale back PMC fundraising efforts to focus on these important issues.
The PMC has been an event that has become a tradition for my family. This year, its taking on a different look. In the spirit of social distancing, I've decided to take on a solo trek, on my Trek, from my home in a Sunapee, to my brother and sister-in-law's home in Rye, NH. The route will be partially frelanced, with rest-stops in Concord and Dover NH (among other unscheduled stops.) I estimate the entire endeavor to be around 105-110 miles. Given how little I have trained this year, this seems like an epic-enough sacrifice to be worth fundraising for.
If you have been so lucky as to come through COVID with financial security, please consider making a contribution. Cancer didn't take a year off, and in a year where PPE shortages are widespread, patients who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk than ever. Fundraising remains a critical component of the operating budget for Dana Farber Cancer Institute and for this reason I will answer the call.
Together, including the year my wife, Emily took on the event, we have raised nearly $35,000, every dollar of which goes directly to cancer research.
If you can afford to help, thank you for your support. If you are struggling - keep fighting, we're all going to have to get through this together. Most of all, be kind to yourselves and each other.
Be well,
John
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From 2015:
It is with a heavy heart that I must update this. On April 25, 2015 the world lost an amazing father, husband, friend, teacher, coach and community leader. We learned in mid-March, a week before his 58th birthday, that chemotherapy was no longer a viable treatment option. He was given only a couple of months. Dad wouldn't accept this death sentence without a fight. The doctors at Dana Farber allowed him the opportunity to be a part of a promising clinical trial drug. The drug was a different type of chemotherapy, one that specifically targeted cancer cells. Near the end dad had told me, if this is it, I want to at least have the doctors use me to learn to help other people.
The most incredible thing about this clinical trial was the fact that at the time of his death, it was working! On April 6, 2015, in my father's blood there were 12% blast (cancer) cells. On April 22, 2015 there were 0. The drug was doing what it was supposed to do. This is why events like the PMC are so important. The research being done every day is eventually going to wipe this disease off the face of the earth. I have also upped my fundraising goal to $10,000. If this money goes to helping enhance the life of one person, it's worth the sacrifice.
We are so unbelievably blessed that he did not show any signs of the illness until the very end. In fact, he had a smile on his face every day. I'll be telling his story for the rest of my life because I cannot be more proud of his attitude and fight through the entire process. They say, courage is grace under fire, and my father is the most courageous man I have ever met. I love you dad, and I know you will be there at the finish line.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I am riding in honor of my father, John Kravic. He is a high school science teacher in the Hudson Valley in New York. He has been a staple of the community for many years known both as a teacher and football coach. In early 2014 my father was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). It was a shock to everyone as he felt 100% healthy and never showed any signs or symptoms that anything was wrong. He has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy as well as a bone marrow transplant (BMT) in July of 2014.
After spending several months in remission it appeared everything was going well, until early February 2015. His blood counts began to drop and before we knew it the cancer was back. He is currently at Albany Medical Center undergoing another round of even more aggressive chemotherapy in hopes of being able to undergo another BMT.
From the time of the diagnosis the doctors and nurses at Dana Farber and Albany Medical Center have been amazing. In the short time we have dealt with this horrible disease we have seen several breakthroughs in treatment; from successful clinical trials to testing procedures that are cutting edge and changing all the time. I truly believe that in a short time the research being done at Dana Farber is going to eradicate leukemia. I am riding for my father, my family, and for all families dealing with a cancer diagnosis. I thank God every day that we live in a time where horrible diseases like this are in a large part curable, and cutting edge medical breakthroughs are happening every day. We will never stop fighting. I want to thank the doctors and nurses at both Dana Farber and Albany Medical Center for their tireless efforts and compassionate care. Even when things appear at their worst, they bring positive energy and winning mentality every day.
In the last 12 months my father has spent approximately 4-5 months confined to a tiny room and a specially designed wing to prevent contamination due to his neutropenic status. Those who know my father understand just how difficult it is for him to sit still for any period of time. The most challenging part of this diagnosis for him thus far is the boredom and confinement. Watching him go through this has given me perspective on just how lucky many of us are to have the ability to lead an active lifestyle. It is for this reason I have chosen to train and participate in the 2 day 188 mile ride. My dad taught me never to half ass anything in life, so I guess I'm going to go big or walk home.
I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last 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. For those of you who choose to donate I cannot thank you enough.
Wow, 2020 really happened in a big way, huh? With all the uncertainty, I feel so blessed to have people I love and care about come thus-far unscathed through the COVID-19 pandemic. I know for many this is not the case, and that this is a year full of social and economic unrest like we have not seen in my lifetime. For this reason I have elected to be sensitive and scale back PMC fundraising efforts to focus on these important issues.
The PMC has been an event that has become a tradition for my family. This year, its taking on a different look. In the spirit of social distancing, I've decided to take on a solo trek, on my Trek, from my home in a Sunapee, to my brother and sister-in-law's home in Rye, NH. The route will be partially frelanced, with rest-stops in Concord and Dover NH (among other unscheduled stops.) I estimate the entire endeavor to be around 105-110 miles. Given how little I have trained this year, this seems like an epic-enough sacrifice to be worth fundraising for.
If you have been so lucky as to come through COVID with financial security, please consider making a contribution. Cancer didn't take a year off, and in a year where PPE shortages are widespread, patients who are immunocompromised are at a higher risk than ever. Fundraising remains a critical component of the operating budget for Dana Farber Cancer Institute and for this reason I will answer the call.
Together, including the year my wife, Emily took on the event, we have raised nearly $35,000, every dollar of which goes directly to cancer research.
If you can afford to help, thank you for your support. If you are struggling - keep fighting, we're all going to have to get through this together. Most of all, be kind to yourselves and each other.
Be well,
John
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From 2015:
It is with a heavy heart that I must update this. On April 25, 2015 the world lost an amazing father, husband, friend, teacher, coach and community leader. We learned in mid-March, a week before his 58th birthday, that chemotherapy was no longer a viable treatment option. He was given only a couple of months. Dad wouldn't accept this death sentence without a fight. The doctors at Dana Farber allowed him the opportunity to be a part of a promising clinical trial drug. The drug was a different type of chemotherapy, one that specifically targeted cancer cells. Near the end dad had told me, if this is it, I want to at least have the doctors use me to learn to help other people.
The most incredible thing about this clinical trial was the fact that at the time of his death, it was working! On April 6, 2015, in my father's blood there were 12% blast (cancer) cells. On April 22, 2015 there were 0. The drug was doing what it was supposed to do. This is why events like the PMC are so important. The research being done every day is eventually going to wipe this disease off the face of the earth. I have also upped my fundraising goal to $10,000. If this money goes to helping enhance the life of one person, it's worth the sacrifice.
We are so unbelievably blessed that he did not show any signs of the illness until the very end. In fact, he had a smile on his face every day. I'll be telling his story for the rest of my life because I cannot be more proud of his attitude and fight through the entire process. They say, courage is grace under fire, and my father is the most courageous man I have ever met. I love you dad, and I know you will be there at the finish line.
******************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I am riding in honor of my father, John Kravic. He is a high school science teacher in the Hudson Valley in New York. He has been a staple of the community for many years known both as a teacher and football coach. In early 2014 my father was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). It was a shock to everyone as he felt 100% healthy and never showed any signs or symptoms that anything was wrong. He has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy as well as a bone marrow transplant (BMT) in July of 2014.
After spending several months in remission it appeared everything was going well, until early February 2015. His blood counts began to drop and before we knew it the cancer was back. He is currently at Albany Medical Center undergoing another round of even more aggressive chemotherapy in hopes of being able to undergo another BMT.
From the time of the diagnosis the doctors and nurses at Dana Farber and Albany Medical Center have been amazing. In the short time we have dealt with this horrible disease we have seen several breakthroughs in treatment; from successful clinical trials to testing procedures that are cutting edge and changing all the time. I truly believe that in a short time the research being done at Dana Farber is going to eradicate leukemia. I am riding for my father, my family, and for all families dealing with a cancer diagnosis. I thank God every day that we live in a time where horrible diseases like this are in a large part curable, and cutting edge medical breakthroughs are happening every day. We will never stop fighting. I want to thank the doctors and nurses at both Dana Farber and Albany Medical Center for their tireless efforts and compassionate care. Even when things appear at their worst, they bring positive energy and winning mentality every day.
In the last 12 months my father has spent approximately 4-5 months confined to a tiny room and a specially designed wing to prevent contamination due to his neutropenic status. Those who know my father understand just how difficult it is for him to sit still for any period of time. The most challenging part of this diagnosis for him thus far is the boredom and confinement. Watching him go through this has given me perspective on just how lucky many of us are to have the ability to lead an active lifestyle. It is for this reason I have chosen to train and participate in the 2 day 188 mile ride. My dad taught me never to half ass anything in life, so I guess I'm going to go big or walk home.
I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. In fact, last 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. For those of you who choose to donate I cannot thank you enough.
| 2020 | $3,942.25 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2019 | $7,325.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2018 | $5,580.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2016 | $4,595.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2015 | $10,020.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
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John Kravic