1/15/22

Dear Friend,

I'm re-reading my PMC letter from last year (from July 2021) and feel like I could start it the same way: WHAT A FLIPPING YEAR. Like, seriously. Can you even believe what we have all been through since March 2020? Last summer felt a teeny bit normal but boy, did COVID come back with a vengeance. This summer actually feels REAL normal and we are so very grateful for this. Hopefully this is the end of COVID-19 (I think it's so crazy that we are in 2021 and this virus was identified in 2019!)

Here we are again, or shall I say still. However this year I'll be riding in the actual PMC, not the virtual or re-imagined option. Getting back on the road with my fellow PMC-ers for my 10th PMC ride will be amazing. I will be riding with a new team this year, Do Wicked Good, and I'm looking forward to meeting some new people, making new connections and hearing new stories about why people ride.

17 years ago, in 2005, was my first PMC. My Dad, sister, brother-in law and Matt had all ridden in the few years prior and I felt like it was my turn to join the team. I was riding for my mom, who was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1999, and my father-in-law, Frank, diagnosed with colon cancer around the same time. Committing to ride a bike for 2 days seemed a small sacrifice to make compared to their cancer battles. Prior to 2005 I had never participated in any type of athletic activity, other than a year or two of softball during Elementary School. I was out of shape and terrified. My first ride with Matt was around the neighborhood, included a few tiny hills, and about 3 1/2 miles. It sucked and I was hurting! What had I signed up for?! The actual ride itself was an awesome event- very emotional, physically challenging and overall empowering. I was hooked.

Matt and I alternated riding the PMC the best we could over the next 17 years, juggling babies and other life events. We had the opportunity to ride together in 2014 with our newly-founded Team One 4 the Road- that was a fun weekend, other than the typhoon-like rain! I've also had the pleasure of riding with my brother-in-law Tavis (2010) and my sister Eileen (2015). My biggest regret was the 2010 ride. I got tendonitis during Day 1 and only rode to the second water stop on Day 2. At the time, I thought I was greatly debilitated however looking back I know that I could have pushed through and finished. Cancer patients push through so much more than a little knee pain every.single.day.

I've had all sorts of inspiration over my 10 rides. My mom and dad, my mother and father-in-law, my cousin,other in-laws, elementary school friends, high school friends, college friends, adulthood friends, neighbors, patients from the pharmacy. We all know someone who has or has had this awful disease. When will it stop?

The PMC is still the only fundraiser I know that donates 100% of all rider-raised money to the cause (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in this case) and the PMC's gift to the Jimmy Fund makes up 55% of their annual revenue! This is where the magic happens, folks.

Matt and I have been blessed to have several hundred supporters over the past 17 years. If you are one of them, thank you! If this is your first PMC Letter, please join our community! This is a wonderful cause and a donation of which you can be very proud. My inital goal this year is $6000 but I suspect that we can do better than this. Let's make #10 the best year yet! My humble thanks once again for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Jenn