Today, January 5th 2023 I registered for my 9th PMC. As I hit the commit button again, I think of Why I PMC. My mission/goal remains the same. Research and Hope. Its also awareness. PMC 2021 I decided it was time to share more my reasons for riding. I shared it very publicly through WBZ and the PMC. Its important to me that others learn more about my story. My hope is it helps someone.

Earlier today before I registered, I received a text that at first, I didn’t quite understand. More throughout the day the gravity of this text hit him. The PSA commercial I did for the PMC through WBZ TV won an award from the Massachusettes Broadcasting Association. I am thrilled that others thought my message was important enough to win that award. I am thankful that WBZ and The PMC allowed me to share my message. I realize more now than ever I am doing what I set out to do.

Sharing brought back memories I choose to forget; it was difficult to retell them and hear them being told. However, I learned quickly it was helping others. I’ve learned to say I am a survivor and I am living proof. Two titles I didn’t like to refer to but now know they help people fighting and give them hope knowing others do live and are thriving.

I’ve lived the country song by Tim McGraw Live Like You Were Dying. I’ve sat across from a doctor and heard my chances of survival weren’t good and the only option was bed rest and wait for risky lifesaving surgery. I didn’t go sky diving or rocky mountain climbing like the song suggests. In fact, my doctor insisted I go home and was put on immediate bed rest. Riding my bike, the 192 miles I committed too was not going to happen per her orders. I needed to keep living even though it came with a great risk to my life. Thankfully my husband understood how important it was for me to ride. With his blessing and help  I did ride my bike 88 miles for research and for hope. Hope I clung to and was given with every mile I pedaled. Family and friends along the route cheered me on and prayed I’d survive not only the ride but the day. The other riders pedaling alongside me and the people cheering me on as I pedaled past gave me HOPE and a will to keep going. 

It was hard day, the hardest day of my life. I struggled especially towrads the end of the day. It wasn't until a few miles to the finish that I realized how much my family was affected. I know they were apprensive and didn't want me to take this risk I remember the tears running down my daughter’s face as I pulled into to meet her. I am sure every minute she waited was agonizing. She is now a mother and to think I may have missed that does make me stop and think how lucky I am. I don't take any of it for granted and that is a big reason why I raise money for this charity. The hope I had on this day and everyday pushes me to keep pedaling to give to give that to others who may need it. Becuase as I learned sometimes hope is all you have. 

I wish that was the end of my story. Eight months after my tumor was removed, my husband was diagnosed with cancer. Its truly hard to explain all the emotions that flooded me when I found out. Scared and angry were two of them for sure. SCARED and concerned the man that was my rock when I was fighting my tumor now had his fight, worried we were going through this what if time again, worried how this would affected our kids and so frustrated we had another fight. It fueled me and gave me more of a desire to raise money for research and of course HOPE. Hope I needed again. Hope I know so many others need.

If there is one thing I learned and won't forget RESEARCH and HOPE will always be why I PMC, why Dana Farber Cancer Research and The Jimmy Fund are important to me. Helping to raise funds and bringing awareness to this cause brings us closer to:

RESEARCH- for better and earlier detections, for cures that don't damage our bodies, for better survival rates.

HOPE - that someday we won't have to watch our family members struggling through this disease and what it does to our bodies.

Dana Farber Cancer Institute helps people all over the world with the ongoing medical research. Genetics, treatments, prevention and detection are just few examples. Medical research is my #1 goal for riding the PMC and 100% of all donations from a PMC rider goes directly to Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Knowing that is important to me when I ask for help raising funds. I greatly appreciate any assistance you can give. No amount is too small.