PMC 2025
As a past supporter of my Pan Mass Challenge rides, you are familiar with my story. This year, I added another chapter, as my prostate and I parted ways on 7/7. I was well aware of a family history of this, the most common cancer in men, and symptoms had me concerned. My fears were confirmed last winter, after a genetic test panel, done for free by the Dana Farber Cancer Center, showed I have a gene linked to this and other cancers, and imaging revealed well defined spots that indicated I was in the middle of another round with the Big C. Clouding the clinical path forward, scarring from my previous fight against metastatic melanoma 20 years ago complicated the proposed surgery. I was fortunate to be referred to one of the top surgeons in the world for this procedure, and upon my first follow-up this week, I was told the surgery and subsequent pathology and imaging indicate the best possible prognosis: a future free of this particular cancer. I will be monitored in the months and years ahead, but for now, the outcome is bright.
I knew by late winter that I would not be riding my bike much this summer, let alone the PMC. I initially thought if I couldn't ride, I couldn't justify asking you for a donation to the PMC. I decided to just volunteer this year, joining the thousands of folks and dozens of companies that make this event possible by donating their time, services and materials. Wendy, daughter Hannah and son-in-law Max will also be volunteering at the start of the PMC in August, and Hannah will be riding the "PMC Unpaved" event on Team Kermit in late September in the Berkshires, which she and I rode last year.
But as I pondered the effects of our country's current retrograde politics on the scientific research that has allowed so many more people to survive cancer, I concluded I could not sit idly by. Those in charge of federal money have concluded this cause is not worth funding. I do not wish cancer karma on any of them. No one should have to die from this. But I desperately hope they come to their senses. Until then, it is now up to each and every one of us to step up to help fund cancer research and treatment.
This will be my only request for you to contribute to the Pan Mass Challenge, so if you have even the slightest inkling that this would be in everyone's best interest (and it most certainly is), please help out today. You have two options: You can donate through my PMC page: donate.pmc.org/JV0053 , and/or you can contribute to Hannah's ride at: https://profile.unpaved.org/HV0006. As always 100% of every donation goes to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Whatever you decide to do, you have my profound thanks for your past support, and my hope that we can all get to a future where cancer is no longer a grueling death sentence for anyone.
John
