August 10, 2022
Dear Friend,
This past weekend I completed my 23rd Pan Mass Challenge. This ride may very well have been the hottest, most challenging two days I’ve experienced in my 23 years of riding the PMC. The heat and humidity combined made conditions very difficult. Thankfully, I was well prepared with my training and years of experience which made the ride achievable. Knowing the route was helpful as well, understanding where I could conserve energy with some descending sections allowed me to take full advantage of that opportunity. I felt very good both days finishing strong with my Day 1 arrival at MMA just after 1pm and Day 2 into P-town at 10:15. With that, the physical effort is complete. However, the most challenging part remains ahead - reaching my fundraising goal of $11,532. I am currently at approximately 80% of that target and have until the end of September to reach my goal. Despite all the disruption from the pandemic and global unrest, cancer still afflicts almost 2 million Americans annually and approximately 1/3 of them will die from this horrific disease. It is this that motivates me to ride to make the world a better place, one that is cancer free. I ride with 6,400 other riders committed and bound together to this common goal. The feeling of accomplishment is beyond words, from both the physical achievement as well as knowing that the funds raised are seeding tomorrow’s discoveries. Cancer will be eradicated someday, however, until then the work continues!
As the years go by, the success rates rise and the death rates fall, evidence of our collective effort to get Closer By the Mile, a result of the $831 million the PMC has raised since its inception. With that said, the success rates remain far from 100%. I know the current global happenings have created economic challenges for many, but if you are able, I invite you to join the effort with a donation. Those that have sponsored me already, thank you for teaming with me. Those that haven’t, I invite you again to please consider a donation. The following link http://www2.pmc.org/profile/JO0033 will take you to my PMC profile page where you can make your tax-deductible donation (Tax ID: 04-2746912) with 100% of your donation going to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If you prefer to write a check, please make it out to the PMC, The Jimmy Fund or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and mail it to me directly at:
John O'Rourke
P.O. Box 636
Baltic, CT 06330
If your employer has a matching gift program, ask your Human Resources department for a form, and follow the process for matches. For all that have supported me in past years, thank you and I hope you are still in a position to support the PMC once again this year. For those that are choosing to join the fight for the first time, I thank you as well.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or assistance that you may need in supporting this effort. Best wishes for continued health and prosperity in the months ahead.
Most appreciatively,
John O'Rourke
Please consider becoming a platelet donor, see LINK for FAQ’s.
