Things I DO KNOW (and DON'T KNOW) about the 2022 PMC

I DO KNOW -- 6,000 riders (and 4,000 volunteers) will roll across MA rain-or-shine for the 2022 Pan Mass Challenge to fund cancer research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute on Aug 6-7. The 2021 PMC raised $64M. This year's PMC aims even higher! I DO KNOW (because year #17 is not my first PMC rodeo), the 'challenge' of the PMC is NOT the 200 mile ride (i.e. a moving celebration). The 'Challenge' is reaching out and asking for your help in the battle against cancer. So, I've increased my own personal fundraising challenge to $8,500, that will take my lifetime PMC total over $100K. And do I ever need your help more than ever (see below!)

I DO KNOW -- I'm fundraising with the Patriots Platelet Pedalers, a great team of 150+ cyclists who also donate platelets (needed for patients) at DFCI multiple times a year. I DO KNOW -- that 100% of donations go directly to the Dana Farber and its research teams. The PPP team targets its fundraising to Dr. Anderson's myeloma research.

WHAT I JUST DON'T KNOW is IF (or how much) of the PMC I'll be able to cycle this year! (WAIT, WHAT?) This May, an urgent back surgery (#2) tossed a wrench into my cycling plans. A genetic back problem suddenly flared up causing serious spinal cord compression with unfortunate side effects (balance, weakness, etc.). Luckily, back surgery was successful. The offending bones were removed. Now, eight weeks post-op, physical therapy and rehab are on schedule and I just did my first training ride (15 miles -- slow, no hills), but full strength takes six (or 12?) months to return. Will riding 200 miles in two days be possible in five weeks???

My PMC Ride Plan is to train (rationally and with careful coaching / monitoring) for the next five weeks with game-time decision about attending the ride, and in any case continue fundraising for cancer research. Truth be told, I don't even know if this will be my last PMC ride or if an electric bike is in my future!

It's a TRUE PMC 'CHALLENGE' to ask you to support the Dana Farber, the best cancer research and care facility in the country, with my own ride in jeopardy! BUT, in 2022, the US will still see 2,000,000 NEW cancer cases and 600,000 cancer deaths! Each one - a life, a loved one taken before their time, a light gone out. I DO KNOW, just two weeks ago my close cousin, Ellen, lost her a three year battle with kidney cancer. Saying goodbye at her hospital bedside, I knew again how every effort to fight cancer is worth it. Medical research was too late for her and thousands every day, but with your help not for our kids, or their kids.

I DO KNOW -- I feel incredibly lucky! Medicine has been good to me but back surgery is nothing compared to cancer!

I DO KNOW -- there is no magic cancer 'vaccine', and cancer will never cure itself!

I DO KNOW -- You and I write the future by what we do today.

So, please be a part of the PMC and Dana Farber efforts -- Join me, my platelet donator teammates, and all the other PMC riders and volunteers -- in this year's mission to fund the hell out of the research and fight cancer at:

https://profile.pmc.org/KS0135

or send your PMC support as a check made out to 'Pan-Mass Challenge' or 'Jimmy Fund' to my home address (1 Sorelle Pl, Burlington, MA 01803).

Together we and the PMC will turn the cranks another time and be ‘Closer By The Mile’ to beating cancer. “There is a lot riding on this!” (and I hope I can, too!),

Best wishes, be safe, and Ride On!

Thanks for your PMC support all these years!

-Kevin