2024 Pan-Mass Challenge
Dear Family and Friends,
This year marks a special year for not only myself but the entire PMC community. This will be my 10th year riding the PMC. This year will also be the year that the PMC crosses the 1 Billion dollar mark for rider dollars raised and donated to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
The next part has been in the rear view mirror for my son Liam for many years but it is something I still think about every day. It is difficult to talk about but I feel like it's important to tell the story for those of you that don't know it. Back on April 13, 2012 my wife and I received the news that no parent wants to hear from their child's Doctor, your son has cancer. I remember the feeling of hopelessness and anxiety. I remember thinking to myself, what am I going to do?. He was the oldest of our three children. As a parent, all you can do is care for him and pray. I remember the fear in my daughter Mairead's face when I told her and her thinking to herself, am I next? I remember my youngest son Ronan telling my oldest son, you're going to be ok Liam, Dad's an Engineer, and he can fix anything. I didn't have the heart to tell him that this one was out of my hands. I remember thinking to myself, I can't fix this but I know who can. It's in the hands of god and the Oncologists who are treating him to save his life. I remember hearing about a bicycle challenge in Massachusetts that raised money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I had donated to friends over the years who had ridden in the PMC and it was at that point that I decided to get off the sidelines and get in the fight. I remember calling my wife and telling her that I was going to sign up for the Pan Mass Challenge. My wife has always been my voice of reason. Her first response was, you don't own a bicycle, you have never ridden a bicycle for 192 miles, and how are you going to raise that much money?. My response, I just signed up, I am purchasing a bicycle on the way home from work and I will do it on my hands and knees if I have to. I had less than two months to train. I rode every day for two months and we raised over $35,000 that first year.
My son Liam is considered one of the lucky ones. He is now 22 years old, 6'-3 tall, he played four years of division 1 lacrosse and is now currently finishing up his masters at Bryant University. He is currently living in Newport with 8 of his college and high school friends. Liam is the guy who always makes everyone feel welcome. Maybe it's because he has a different perspective on life than most and he lives every day with gratitude and appreciation. He makes me want to be a better man and to be the best version of myself. He is the one who got me back on the bicycle after getting my hip replacement a couple of years ago. My son Liam will be riding in his first PMC this year along with one of his best friends from high school, Calvin Orton.
The work is not done for the Pan Mass Challenge. Every day it seems like there is another person diagnosed with Cancer. It's not a matter of who gets it but when. We are all in this together. Every day, every mile, and every dollar we get closer to a cure!
This year my son Liam, Calvin, and I will be riding with the New England Patriots team, Patriots Platelet Pedalers. With your help we can get one mile closer to a cure.
I will be riding the PMC and will reach my goal of 192 miles from Sturbridge MA to Provincetown MA. Donations are tax deductible and may be made online at http://www.pmc.org/JP0335 If there is someone special to you that you would like me to ride in honor/memory of, please let me know and his or her name will be included on my riding jersey.
If you prefer to write a check, please make it out to the PMC, The Jimmy Fund or Dana Farber Cancer Institute and mail them to my home address at 28 Countryside Drive, Cumberland, RI 02864
If your employer has a matching gift program, please get the form from HR, and follow the process for matches.
I want to thank you in advance for your kindness, generosity, and prayers.
Riding for a cure!
with love and appreciation,
John Joseph Peterson
Patriots Platelet Pedalers