This year I am back on the bike riding for Mark Deck. Mark is my wifes uncle and god father. He and his family have been an important part of our family's life. And Mark and I have been doing the PMC together for the past 10 years. This past year, shortly after the ride, he was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. He is going through chemo and surgery with a goal of beating this and being back on the starting line at Sturbridge in August!
My PMC History
The PMC has been an important part of my family’s life, since I started riding it back in 2009. Since 2009, I have ridden it 7 times, with this year being my 8th.
My first year I rode it to celebrate my brother in law Ray and my Aunt Nancy.
Ray is my wife’s older brother. In 2005, then only 30 years old, he was diagnosed with a complex stage 4 cancer. The cancer had metastasized to his heart and lungs. Over night he went from being fit and healthy to being in the fight of his life. Overnight all our lives were upside down. It was as though everything stopped and our perception of life changed. Ray was immediately admitted to Dana Farber and treatment began within days. He began aggressive treatments to shrink the tumors small enough for surgery. The tumors were close to his heart and lungs requiring major thoracic surgery. At the time, the hours and days seemed like an eternity. However, today, thanks to everyone at Dana Farber, Ray is now cancer free for 10 years, married, and the father of twins.
My Aunt Nancy was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2001. Shortly after signing up for that first Pan Mass Challenge, I learned that my Aunt Nancy's cancer had returned. She has been in a fight with cancer for 8 years, having undergone many surgeries and many rounds of chemo therapy. Her cancer has been very aggressive and she continued to fight a courageous battle. Surgeries and aggressive chemo therapy helped keep the cancer at bay and allowed her to enjoy her life. Nancy's courage and determination inspired me to train even harder in 2009.
In 2010, my aunt Nancy's fight against cancer took a turn for the worse. Cancer ultimately took her life. I think about her almost every day. In my teenage years she was like a mother to me and helped me through some of the toughest times of my life. I lived with her when her children were the age of my children now. I still sometimes pick up the phone wanting to call her and tell her about them or ask her a question. I still have her number in my phone. I miss her every day.
Team Thanks
Over the years I have met some wonderful people doing the PMC and have recruited others to join our cause. This year I ride with a team of family and friends. Together, we are Team Thanks. “THANKS” was the slogan of a campaign for the United Way led by my wife’s grandfather. He had the license plate “THANKS” on his car for long before I knew him. When you ride the PMC, the entire 192 miles, people come out and cheer us on and yell “Thank You for Riding.” They turn out along the road to celebrate this day and this effort.
Together, as a team, our goal this year is to raise $40,000.
We ride together because our lives have all been touched by cancer and helped by Dana-Farber. We ride together because together we can do more.
Please help me again, and help us meet our goals!
Thank you
Link to our team profile: http://www2.pmc.org/profile/TT0181
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