Aug. 8, 2005 my mother, Ethel M. Brooks, (gram B.) died from lung cancer after being diagnosed six months earlier. She wanted to die at home and so the whirl wind began. She was not afraid of the cancer or of dying. Her fear was leaving my father behind, they shared their lives for over 50 years! She told me she thought he would fall apart and asked me to be there for him.  My mother was loved by so many people, everyone is telling me how giving she was, how understanding she was, how she was always there when someone needed anything. And so, she left behind a lot of broken hearts. At first I was numb, how could this happen.. I went thru the motions, my life was changing, I was moving in with my father and I knew a new chapter had began.
Not long after my mom died my niece Kelsey told us she was going to be a rider in the PMC ( PAN MA CHALLENGE ) in honor/memory of Gram B. We were thrilled to do something to help fight cancer so we learned all we could about the PMC and asked her how we could help. We made tee shirts to wear at the yard sale, car wash, red sox game, and to wear in Onset as we held signs & cheered Kelsey and all the riders on as they made their way to the MA maritime...end of day one!! ( You too can sit or stand along any route & cheer the riders on.... they love it!! ) We yelled just one more hill, cold beer waiting, thank you for riding, great job... as those legs pedaled like their lives depended on it. This is not a race, this is a ride, a challenge to make a difference in the fight against Cancer. A rider has a minimum amount of money they are required to pay up front before they ride. Kelsey, doing a 2 day ride, is required to raise over $4,400.00!!.. So the fundraising begins!!! The PMC is the largest Cancer fund raisier in the country... yes the country! People come from all over the world to participate in this ride. 100% of the proceeds go directly to The Dana Farber Cancer Institute & The Jimmy Fund.... yes 100%. No other fundraiser can say that!
Kelsey and the PMC helped keep us very busy and got us through a big part of our grief... We are so proud of her and her determination to make a difference! I am unable to ride because of my medical problems so I ,too, decided to help make a difference in the fight against cancer. I am a 11year PMC volunteer, doing this in memory of my mom, my sister, other family members, & friends that are fighting to live or have lost their lives to cancer. Next year and the next, as long as it takes, I will be a part of the PMC -- volunteering at water stops to help these amazing people get thru their ride. I will raise money to help stop this deadly disease that changed my families life and many of your families lives too.
Thank you all for making our fundraising goals possible. I know together we can all make a difference in finding a cure. Love to you all !!