Non Sibi, Sed Toti (not for self, but for all)
I am like most people; I have had family, friends and colleagues affected by cancer. My father’s brother and two sisters all died from cancer, my father is a 15+ year cancer survivor. The disease has not just impacted my father’s side of the family, but my mother’s as well; most tragically in the death of my cousin at the age of 19 from cancer.
In calendar year 2018, a colleague lost her husband (late 50’s) to cancer and a family friend (early 40’s) was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. I could continue the list, but I am likely to miss someone (which I do not want to do) and I want to respect people’s privacy. My mother worked as an OR Nurse in an oncology hospital in the 1950’s and in talking with her, the treatments she witnessed have progressed a long way in the last 60 years. The specifics on the 5 cases in my immediate family and the two in 2018 bring home the point; a lot remains to be done.
In the case of my family the cancer survival rate is not where it needs to be. I am not sure what the survival rate is in the general population but 100% needs to be the goal.
Four years ago I was morbidly obese and was hospitalized twice with septic shock. As I lay in the ICU, I wondered what medical science had that could help me. I was fortunate in that I was not one of the 40% that sepsis kills. After the second round, my primary care physician advised me to lose weight and get in better shape because if there were a third time, I might not be as fortunate.
I took up cycling to get in shape and I have met a number of people who are long term PMC riders who have inspired me to ride. I thought to myself that this was a good way to combine something I love to do with something that can help people who have been stricken with a devastating medical condition.
I will ride to help others because I am physically able to, and I am physically able because medical science came through for me.
Why this venue –
Every PMC rider raised dollar goes to DFCI to assist them with their mission. In today’s society a great importance gets placed on material items; without health, the material items are worthless.
Please support my ride; If you leave the name of a person for whom you wish to remember or honor, I will keep them in my heart as I ride.
Non Sibi, Sed Toti (not for self, but for all)
I am like most people; I have had family, friends and colleagues affected by cancer. My father’s brother and two sisters all died from cancer, my father is a 15+ year cancer survivor. The disease has not just impacted my father’s side of the family, but my mother’s as well; most tragically in the death of my cousin at the age of 19 from cancer.
In calendar year 2018, a colleague lost her husband (late 50’s) to cancer and a family friend (early 40’s) was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer. I could continue the list, but I am likely to miss someone (which I do not want to do) and I want to respect people’s privacy. My mother worked as an OR Nurse in an oncology hospital in the 1950’s and in talking with her, the treatments she witnessed have progressed a long way in the last 60 years. The specifics on the 5 cases in my immediate family and the two in 2018 bring home the point; a lot remains to be done.
In the case of my family the cancer survival rate is not where it needs to be. I am not sure what the survival rate is in the general population but 100% needs to be the goal.
Four years ago I was morbidly obese and was hospitalized twice with septic shock. As I lay in the ICU, I wondered what medical science had that could help me. I was fortunate in that I was not one of the 40% that sepsis kills. After the second round, my primary care physician advised me to lose weight and get in better shape because if there were a third time, I might not be as fortunate.
I took up cycling to get in shape and I have met a number of people who are long term PMC riders who have inspired me to ride. I thought to myself that this was a good way to combine something I love to do with something that can help people who have been stricken with a devastating medical condition.
I will ride to help others because I am physically able to, and I am physically able because medical science came through for me.
Why this venue –
Every PMC rider raised dollar goes to DFCI to assist them with their mission. In today’s society a great importance gets placed on material items; without health, the material items are worthless.
Please support my ride; If you leave the name of a person for whom you wish to remember or honor, I will keep them in my heart as I ride.
I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list.