2024
Memorial Day weekend heralds the unofficial kickoff to summer, Lois and I mount our bikes, gearing up for the monumental 192-mile Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) on August 3rd and 4th. Our dedication to this cause, spanning 35 years, remains resolute, fueled by a deep-seated commitment to supporting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The PMC transcends mere cycling: it embodies a profound mission to stand alongside loved ones facing the scourge of cancer. It encompasses cherished memories of friends forged during early morning rides, training journeys, and shared experiences with fellow riders, all unified in the fight against this relentless disease.
The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to fund lifesaving cancer research, treatment, and patient care. The organization is the Institute’s single largest contributor, accounting for 62 percent of the annual revenue for the Jimmy Fund.
In 2023, the PMC's staggering contribution of $72 million propelled its cumulative fundraising for Dana-Farber to $1 billion, a historic milestone that will be reached in 2024. Lois and I are humbled to announce that our collective fundraising efforts will surpass $1 million this year. Thank you so very much!
Over the past 35 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year I will be riding for 2 friends and long time supporters of the PMC - Chuck Green and Chuck Sullivan. We will also be riding in memory of Lili Ruane, Greta Burke, and Brooks Bitterman, whose spirits propel us forward.
The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic — the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC. This year our team will be riding for 8 year old Declan Vail. Declan is battling brain cancer and is being treated at Dana-Farber. He just started a new improved drug that eliminates BRAF brain tumors in 80% of patients! We are all rooting for Declan!!
Last year I raised $36,000 and I have made that my 2024 goal as well. I hope you will give generously to this important cause.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1, or visit www.PMC.org and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Your support fuels our resolve as we continue the fight against cancer, one pedal stroke at a time.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly, and it is making a difference in real lives.
34 years - Wow! Times flies when you spend your summers on a bike. And it has become such an important part of our lives - Lois is now on the board of the PMC and I also volunteer. But we couldn’t do it without the support of our fundraising team! Thanks you so much for your support of the PMC over all these miles.
Why do we keep riding? Because we are making a difference! We now are seeing many cancers cured. I believe we are on the cusp of some amazing successes as doctors & researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are able to direct our immune systems and modify our DNA (CISPR) & mRNA technology to fight the battle against cancer!
In 2023, the PMC has a set record-breaking fundraising goal of $70 million for the Dana- Farber!
The PMC raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country: $900 million since 1980 and $69 million in 2022 alone. This success is the result of a lot of people riding for, and caring about, a cure. And because every penny matters, 100 percent of your donation goes to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Over the past 34 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer struck close to home again and I will be riding for my sister-in-law Betsy Price. Betsy was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma last September and has had many months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment in Michigan and most recently began a new trial of chemotherapy. She has an amazing, positive attitude and spirit that inspires us all, positively engaging with her family and community, and praising the dedication and work of her caregivers.
In May of 2019 my friend Jeremy’s world was turned upside down when his 3 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Declan is now almost 7 and has fought his tumor for 4 years with the help of his Dana -Farber team. After 18 months of chemotherapy, 3 brain surgeries, countless medical procedures, tests, and >750 seizures- his true grit still shines through. Declan shows us all how life with cancer should be. He takes every day on with courage and a fierce determination to make everyone around him smile. Declan teaches us how to live life one day at a time. Lois and I will be directing our funds to his Dr Mimi Bandopadhayay, a pediatric neurooncologist and scientist at the Bandolab @ DFCI, to help accelerate her research into the genetic mutation of the FGFR1 gene, to work on curing tumors like Declan’s.
Last year I raised $36,000 and I have made that my 2023 goal as well. I hope you will give generously to this important cause.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 14th. You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly, and it is making a difference in real lives.
2022
What a crazy couple of years! But after 2 years of Covid, the PMC is back up and riding at full speed As the weather turns warm and we pull our bikes out of the basement, Lois and I renew our enthusiasm and deep commitments to the PMC. It has become the highlight of our summers, motivating us to wake up on summer mornings for long training rides to make a difference. Amid this crazy pandemic and economic chaos, we need the PMC more that ever, to deliver the needed funds that will directly save lives and to brings us one step closer to a cure for cancer.
Since its founding in 1947, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts has been committed to providing adults and children with the best cancer treatment available today, while developing tomorrows cures through cutting-edge research.
The PMC has raised $831 million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since its launch in 1980. Today, the PMC is the single largest contributor to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund, and is responsible for 55 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar raised by the PMC goes directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Over the past 33 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again and I will be riding for my niece Joslyn Spain who was diagnosed with breast cancer this winter. She had successful surgery in the last month and it looks like no radiation or chemotherapy is expected. Joslyn is positive, determined and returning to her active life as a working mother of three.
Last year I raised $35,000 and I have made that my 2022 goal as well. I hope you will continue to give generously to this important cause.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 15th. You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly, and it is making a difference in real lives.
2021
Wow! What a year. I hope this letter finds you doing well as we slowly get back to the new normal. Well, the PMC is back up and moving forward and on August 7th I will be riding in my 33rd PMC.
After a long year of Covid, Lois and I are returning with renewed enthusiasm and deeper commitments to both the ride and meet our goals. The PMC has become a highlight of our summers, motivating us to wake up on weekend mornings for long, hot training rides to make a difference in the fight against cancer. We will always be committed to the PMC, no matter what happens in our world!
The Pan-Mass Challenge is the single largest fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund, and raises more money for charity than any other single athletic event in the country. Founded in 1980, the PMC has raised nearly $819 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, through its Jimmy Fund.
Every year I dedicate my ride to someone who is battling cancer, and unfortunately I have a number of friends who are currently in this fight. But again this year it seems most appropriate that I dedicate my ride to all the Doctors, Nurses, Researchers, & First Responders who have tirelessly worked to save our friends, neighbors and community from this ravenous disease, and to all who continued their work at the Dana-Farber, treating patients and continuing life saving cancer research this past year.
Last year I raised $26,550 and I have made $30,000 my 2021 goal as well. Suzanne, in the past you have given $$$ and I hope you will continue to give generously to this important cause.
100 % of every rider-raised dollar raised by the PMC goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It will be no different this year. PMC donations are tax deductible and the PMC's tax ID / EIN is 04-2746912.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st.
You can also give on-line at: https://www.pmc.org/ Go to Donate at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help. There’s a lot riding on us and our efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. Thanks again for making miracles possible!
With love and appreciation,
2020
Over the past 31 years I have dreamed about the end of cancer, but I never could have imagined how a worldwide pandemic would change our lives so dramatically.
COVID-19 has made it impossible for 6500 riders to gather this August to ride across Massachusetts for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, but that doesn’t mean that our determination to battle this horrible disease has waned. Our collective vision has changed to the “PMC-Reimagined”! The need to raise funds for life-saving cancer research and treatment are still very necessary. We still plan to fundraise, train, and on PMC weekend, Lois, Ben and I are committed to riding both days in Massachusetts.
Why do we keep riding? Because amid this crazy pandemic and economic chaos, we need the PMC more that ever, to deliver the needed funds that will directly save lives and brings us one step closer to a cure. The Pan Mass Challenge is the single largest fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund. We will always be committed to the PMC, no matter where we ride.
Every year I dedicate my ride to someone who is battling cancer, and unfortunately I have a number of friends who are currently in this fight. But this year it seems most appropriate that I dedicate my ride to all the Doctors, Nurses, & First Responders who have tirelessly worked to save our friends, neighbors and community from this ravenous virus, and to all who continue their work at the Dana Farber treating patients and continuing their research during these difficult times.
100 percent of every rider-raised dollar raised by the PMC goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It will be no different this year. The PMC donated a record-breaking $63 million to Dana-Farber in 2019, bringing the PMC's 40-year fundraising total to $717 million.
Last year I raised $30,000 and I have made that my 2020 goal as well.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in re
2019
30 years of riding the PMC! Who would have thought? I not sure what I was thinking, but there was no way I thought I would be riding this long. But that is the magic of this ride, The PMC has woven its way into so many aspects of my life and has become so much more than a weekend bike ride in August. It’s about riding for family members and friends battling this horrible disease. It’s our PMC friends, early morning train rides, weekend rides & get togethers. It’s all of you supporting us over the last 30 years, all the incredible people I have met on the ride and making life long friends.i
Over the past 30 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again and I will be riding for my dear friend & PMC volunteer, Paul Surface who was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had robotic surgery last week that was very successful and no further treatment is plannedat this time!
The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic — the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC.
This year our team will be riding for 6 year old Torren who is battling Leukemia Torren loves dinosaurs, nature, animals, science and anything that really gets him thinking! He loves doing arts and crafts when he goes into the Dana Farber for his weekly treatments.and all the food of course! He is very excited to be a part of the Pan-Mass Challenge and can’t wait to meet everyone.
This year our PMC team “FAT BOYS/slim sisters” will again be riding for Todd Balf who has battled and beat Chordama. Todd rode last year, and is unable to ride this year, but will be cheering us on.Chordoma is an extremely rare cancer of the bones in the skull base and spine. In the US, approximately 300 new instances occur annually; that’s literally one in a million. It’s rarity means research dollars are scarce making innovative treatments few and far between. Our team’s fundraising is making a huge impact here, especially with the Chordoma Foundation matching the money our team raises for the Dana-Farber! Last year with the matching funds, our team raised a combined $400,000 for the Dana-Farber lab of Dr. Cigall Kadoch.
The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that continues to raise more money for charity than any other single event in the country. In 2018, the PMC raised $56 million. Founded in 1980, the PMC has raised $654 million for cancer research and treatment for the DFCI through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $60 million in 2019 and if the PMC achieves its goal, Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne has pledged to donate an additional $1 million to the cause.
Last year I raised $34,000 and I have set my 2019 goal at $35,000 this year. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer!
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in real lives! Thanks so much!
The Straw Hat
It seems that I cry a least once on the PMC weekend, and this year was no exception. I just wasn't prepared for it to happen so soon.
We woke Saturday morning to the passing of a Canadian cold front that had pushed the oppressive heat and humidity of the past 8 weeks out to sea. As the ride commenced at 6 am, we were cold and goose bumps ran races around our bodies. Though no one said a word for how could we complain after training in record heat through the whole summer? The air was clear and the morning sunshine brought a crisp detail to everything we rode by. It was a beautiful morning and we seemed to roll up and down the hills with ease. Waving back to the wonderful supporters that lined our route too Provincetown, we exchanges hello's to our fellow riders as our group of 4 rolled along.
Somewhere around the 50-mile mark, we had just gone through one of those old Massachusetts mill towns, with its wonderful old brick buildings and a river wandering through the downtown area. We started to climb up the far side of the valley, the warm sun in our faces and a cold wind trying to hold our bikes back. The hill had several groups of supporters that help us along with their clapping, cheering and words of encouragement, and I wondered how they have been touched by cancer. At about the halfway point of the hill a strong gust of wind blew a straw hat out onto the road. I was the last one in our group and the one in the best position to retrieve it. So like an outfielder I yelled and; I got it and; and with a look over my shoulder I moved out into the middle of the road chasing the tumbling hat. I could see out of the corner of my eye a child trying to get to the hat, but her mother caught her and was holding her back from the road. The hat blew into my hand and I paused as a car passed between us. As I glanced towards the side of the road, I could see that the little girl was crying. This struck me as odd, for it was only a straw hat and she would have it within seconds ? why such big tears? But after 3 hours on the bike, the mind doesn't function too well.
I slowly pushed my bike to the side of the road with the hat in my hand, my vision completely fixed on the little girl and the tears running down her face. I reached the side of the road and handed her the hat. I smiled and she turned away in embarrassment, and I then finally focused on mom with her big blue eyes, her summer time dress dancing in the wind and her naked hairless head. She smiled back at me confidently and said and;Thanks.and; My words got stuck in my throat. I climbed back on my bike and she pulled the hat tightly over her head as I rode up the hill to catch the others.
Catching Chris, I started to explain what had happened. But before I could get half a sentence out, he started to cry. We rode in silence, with the wind drying the tears running down our faces.
If there was any doubt why I write all those letters and spend all that time on the bike, it was quickly erased. I ride for all those little girls and the wish that they may spend many August days with their moms.
PMC 2018
29 years ago this month, with my knee really hurting me from a ski accident in my teens, my orthopedic doctor suggested that I start riding a bike to help with the arthritic pain and stiffness. I searched for something to help motivate & focus me to ride more and a good friend recommend I check out the PMC. Little did I know what an important part of my life this event and cause would become. Who knew that I could make a difference and take care of my knee at the same time? And this year, when I line up at 5:30 am on August 4th to ride the PMC again, I will have a new knee & hip to power me all the 192 miles to Provincetown.
Why do we keep riding? Because we are making a difference! We now are seeing many cancers cured and I believe we are on the cusp of some amazing successes as doctors & researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are able to direct our immune systems and to modify our DNA (CISPR) to fight the battle against cancer!
Over the past 29 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again and I will be riding for my sister-in-law Athina Cornell, who was again diagnosed with breast cancer this winter. She had successful surgery and is now undergoing a round of radiation treatments. Athina is slowly returning to her active life as a working mother of 4 daughters. Annie, Ben, Lois and I will join my brother Mike, honoring his wife with our family goal of making the end of cancer a reality.
This year our PMC team “FAT BOYS/slim sisters” will be riding for and with Todd Balf who has battled and beat Chordama. Chordoma is an extremely rare cancer of the bones in the skull base and spine. In the US, approximately 300 new instances occur annually; that’s literally one in a million. It’s rarity means research dollars are scarce making innovative treatments few and far between. Our team’s fundraising can make a huge impact here, especially with the Chordoma foundation matching the money our team raises for the Dana-Farber!
The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that continues to raise more money for charity than any other single event in the country. In 2017, the PMC raised $51 million. Founded in 1980, the PMC has raised $600 million for cancer research and treatment for the DFCI through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $52 million in 2018; Last year I raised $29,000 and I have set my 2018 goal at $30,000 this year. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer!
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in real lives! Thanks so much!
Linc
2016
27 years ago as I got my old 10-speed bike tuned-up and entered my first PMC, little did I know what an important part of my life this event and cause would become. I knew no one on the ride, but knew I wanted to make a difference. In my 27 years the ride has gone from 600 to 6000 riders; from $1 million to $45 million raised a year! We now are seeing many cancers cured and I believe we are on the cusp of some amazing success as the doctors & researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are able to get our immune systems to fight our battle against cancer
The ride has also become a family affair. This year Annie will be joining Ben, Lois and me along with my brother and niece. We will also be joined by 5 friends from college - how great is that!!
We will be riding for my college buddy Michael Hartnett who has been successfully treated at Dana Farber for his prostate cancer. And our team funds will be going to help his doctor and her research. Dr. Mary-Ellen Taplin is the Director of Clinical Research at the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at DFCI. Our team goal is to raise $300,000 for Dr. Taplin in 2016.
The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic — the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC. This year our team will be riding for 4-year-old Bea.
In August 2014, Bea was diagnosed with leukemia. Her family was in Children’s Hospital for a couple of months with Bea, and she is now getting her treatment as an outpatient in the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Bea was very excited last year to have her own bike team and her family really loved being part of it because it made this a fun experience.
Ba is doing well. She's grown quite a bit in the past 6 months. She's still consistently getting infusions, etc., but they have now got a finish line in sight: in September, she'll wrap up her final chemo cycle and should be, fingers crossed, finished with treatments for good. Bea plans to start pre-school in the fall as long as all goes well.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in real lives! Thanks so much!
Linc
2014
25 years ago this week, overweight, with a bad knee, and on the eve of becoming a Dad, I signed up for the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. With my longest ride having been no more than 20 miles, little did I know that this journey would change my life and become so much a part of my world. As I have said in the past, the PMC is one big family a unified family force working toward a common goal of making cancer a thing of the past.
Each year Lois and I return with renewed enthusiasm and deeper commitments to both the ride and our goal. It has become the highlight of our summers, motivating us to wake up on weekend mornings for long training rides to make a difference. Regardless of our physical condition, those of us who ride in the PMC go to the starting line with an emotional commitment to help others, while joining in an effort that is much larger than ourselves. In return, we experience a powerfully inspiring weekend, we connect with our old friends, we make new friends, and become a part of an incredible extended family, while raising money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. We will not rest until cancer is a thing of the past!
The PMC is an annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic event in the country. The organization was founded in 1980 and it has raised nearly $414 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. In 2013 the PMC contributed $39 million, representing 60% of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue and 100% of every rider-raised dollar going directly to the Dana Farber. The PMC is so well known in cycling and fundraising circles that each year people travel from around the world to participate. The camaraderie shared by riders, volunteers, and supporters is so strong that even the doctors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute join their patients as teammates, riding toward our unified goal.
On August 2nd and 3rd, Lois and I will once again take to the road for the PMC. Over the past 25 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again… and I will be riding for my sister-in-law Athina Cornell who was diagnosed with breast cancer this winter. She had successful surgery and fortunately no future treatment is expected. Athina is slowly returning to her active life as a working mother of 4 daughters. Lois, Ben and I along with our niece Morgan, will join my brother Mike, honoring his wife with our family goal of making the end of cancer a reality.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $40 million in 2014 and I have set my goal at $30,000 this year. If we raise $30,000, our fundraising team will break a pretty awesome goal we will have raised $500,000 in 25 years. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer! Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. Thanks again for making miracles possible!
With love and appreciation, Linc
After 24 years of riding the PMC, it has woven its way into so many aspects of my life and has become so much more than a weekend bike ride in August. It’s about family: Ben is joining Lois and me, along with my brother Mike and our niece Morgan for this years ride. And it’s about riding for family members and friends battling this horrible disease. It’s about our PMC friends, early morning train rides, weekend rides & get togethers. It’s all of you supporting us over all these years, all the incredible people I have met on the ride and making life long friends. It’s about our friends coming together to form a PMC team ?? The “Fat Boys and Slim Sisters”. It’s about our team raising money to help with Neuroblastoma and Pancreatic cancer research. And this year its about riding for Erica Kaitz, who was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) a very rare cancer and our 2013 combined team funds going into LMS research at the Dana Farber. It’s about our Pedal Partner, 7 year old Hailey Olson who is battling brain cancer. Hailey’s brain tumor returned this year, but she is keeping a positive attitude with the help of her family and this is why we ride! It’s about our team chipping in this past winter to send Hailey on a dream Caribbean kids cruise. It about starting off the PMC weekend with a Friday morning Jimmy Fund golf tournament, which raises additional monies for the Dana Farber. It’s about volunteering the week after the PMC, and it’s about supporting all the doctors, nurses, scientists, etc. who work tirelessly to make the dream of the end of cancer a reality!
The Pan Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. In 2012, the PMC raised $37 million. The organization was founded in 1980 and it has raised $375 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
I wanted to share this photo of our pedal partner Hailey Olson, her Mom and our team at the Pedal Partner water stop last year. The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic ?? the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC.
On August 3 and 4, we will once again take to the road for the PMC. Over the past 24 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year I will be riding for my good friend, David Kleeman who is battling CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia which is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $38 million in 2013 and I have set my goal at $30,000. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue for making a difference in the fight against cancer.To reach our goal this year, I will need all of the 150 families that made up last year’s fund-raising team, plus a few more, so if you would forward this letter on to one other person we can reach this goal together!
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st.
You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to Donate button at the top of the page and enter my name or rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. Thanks again for making miracles possible.
Thanks!!! Linc
Welcome to my PMC page! The PMC is a really important part of my world and an event that has enabled me to give back. The PMC has taught me many of life's great lessons, one of which is the more you give in life the more you receive!
2012
I was moved to ride my first PMC 23 years ago in memory of my second grade friend Debbie who died of a brain tumor. It was a confusing and upsetting experience for a 7 year old at the time, but one that still motivates me today to make a difference and try to end this horrible disease. Riding the PMC for all those years has been an amazing experience. Every year, I feel the support of the staff, the volunteers, all the other riders and my sponsors. I ride because I can. Riding the PMC is a positive effort that combines with the positive efforts of thousands of other riders and creates something much bigger than all of us. Even though it gets harder each year to get on the bike and get into shape, my commitment continues to grow stronger for this tremendous event and our battle against cancer. In the face of a disease that leaves me feeling so helpless, riding the PMC gives me hope.
2011
This year, I will also be riding for my friend Sam Zoll who passed away this month from a year-long battle with gallbladder cancer. I met Sam, a 27-year rider, during my second year on the PMC. Sam was a big man in every way and I savored our once-a-year beers after our long Saturday ride into Bourne. Sam was passionate about the PMC and played a key role in its evolution. I want to share some excerpts’ from an elegant letter Sam wrote in 2004 about how he felt about the PMC:
“My thoughts about the PMC embrace the impact on consciousness raising and the depth of commitment by people from all walks of life who have converted unremitting sadness of personal tragedy into an unsung effort to be part of a hopeful cure.
The ride, in its earliest years, was a blend of those whose lives were touched by cancer and those who thought the physical accomplishment of riding two days over 200 miles put them in an elite category. With the passage of time, this blend was sublimated to a uniting sense that miles ridden and personal time records were not what the event was or is all about.
The predicate was that the pain of steep hills paled in comparison to the pain that the event was seeking to abate. The numbers grew geometrically and our understanding of the ramifications of the disease became more profound.
As immodest as it may sound, each rider and volunteer feels that she or he owns a piece of this progress. Station in life, variances in monetary contribution, differences in personalities and athletic talent have all been made to yield to the commonality of this seriousness of purpose and pursuit of accomplishment.
In my judgment, this endeavor is a role model in the charitable world of the triumph of lean administration over bureaucracy, thus preserving the donated funds for their states purpose. Most importantly, the event itself is a unique example of the application of physical and emotional strength wherein the finish line of contribution intersects with the euphoria of the wonderful feeling that you have helped somebody else have a better and fuller life. Such feeling is unmatchable.”
2010
Seven years ago I organized our friends into an official PMC team, The FAT BOYS/ Slim Sisters. We rode for 4-year-old Ian Emery who is battling neuroblastoma. Ian had been in remission from Neuroblastoma for over 2 and a half years. Unfortunately, 3 summers later, during a routine check up, the doctors found a tumor in his liver which has been diagnosed as Hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer, probably caused by his initial treatment. Ian had surgery to remove the tumor and of his liver and then started 4 rounds of chemo. And at this time, Ian is clear of both cancers. Our team has raised $1,545,000, which was directed to fight neuroblastoma, and goes into the Friends for Life Neuroblastoma Endowed Fellowship Fund. With our help, Friends for Life was able to reach their goal and hired 3 permanent researcher for neuroblastoma at the Farber. 10 years ago, only 1 out of 10 children diagnosed with neuroblastoma survived. Today, thanks to research conducted at Dana Farber, 6 out of 10 children with late stage neuroblastoma will achieve 3-year remission of their disease. Our team this year will again be riding for Ian and the Friends for Life Fund.
2024
Memorial Day weekend heralds the unofficial kickoff to summer, Lois and I mount our bikes, gearing up for the monumental 192-mile Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) on August 3rd and 4th. Our dedication to this cause, spanning 35 years, remains resolute, fueled by a deep-seated commitment to supporting the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The PMC transcends mere cycling: it embodies a profound mission to stand alongside loved ones facing the scourge of cancer. It encompasses cherished memories of friends forged during early morning rides, training journeys, and shared experiences with fellow riders, all unified in the fight against this relentless disease.
The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to fund lifesaving cancer research, treatment, and patient care. The organization is the Institute’s single largest contributor, accounting for 62 percent of the annual revenue for the Jimmy Fund.
In 2023, the PMC's staggering contribution of $72 million propelled its cumulative fundraising for Dana-Farber to $1 billion, a historic milestone that will be reached in 2024. Lois and I are humbled to announce that our collective fundraising efforts will surpass $1 million this year. Thank you so very much!
Over the past 35 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year I will be riding for 2 friends and long time supporters of the PMC - Chuck Green and Chuck Sullivan. We will also be riding in memory of Lili Ruane, Greta Burke, and Brooks Bitterman, whose spirits propel us forward.
The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic — the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC. This year our team will be riding for 8 year old Declan Vail. Declan is battling brain cancer and is being treated at Dana-Farber. He just started a new improved drug that eliminates BRAF brain tumors in 80% of patients! We are all rooting for Declan!!
Last year I raised $36,000 and I have made that my 2024 goal as well. I hope you will give generously to this important cause.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1, or visit www.PMC.org and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Your support fuels our resolve as we continue the fight against cancer, one pedal stroke at a time.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly, and it is making a difference in real lives.
34 years - Wow! Times flies when you spend your summers on a bike. And it has become such an important part of our lives - Lois is now on the board of the PMC and I also volunteer. But we couldn’t do it without the support of our fundraising team! Thanks you so much for your support of the PMC over all these miles.
Why do we keep riding? Because we are making a difference! We now are seeing many cancers cured. I believe we are on the cusp of some amazing successes as doctors & researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are able to direct our immune systems and modify our DNA (CISPR) & mRNA technology to fight the battle against cancer!
In 2023, the PMC has a set record-breaking fundraising goal of $70 million for the Dana- Farber!
The PMC raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country: $900 million since 1980 and $69 million in 2022 alone. This success is the result of a lot of people riding for, and caring about, a cure. And because every penny matters, 100 percent of your donation goes to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Over the past 34 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer struck close to home again and I will be riding for my sister-in-law Betsy Price. Betsy was diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma last September and has had many months of chemotherapy and radiation treatment in Michigan and most recently began a new trial of chemotherapy. She has an amazing, positive attitude and spirit that inspires us all, positively engaging with her family and community, and praising the dedication and work of her caregivers.
In May of 2019 my friend Jeremy’s world was turned upside down when his 3 year old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Declan is now almost 7 and has fought his tumor for 4 years with the help of his Dana -Farber team. After 18 months of chemotherapy, 3 brain surgeries, countless medical procedures, tests, and >750 seizures- his true grit still shines through. Declan shows us all how life with cancer should be. He takes every day on with courage and a fierce determination to make everyone around him smile. Declan teaches us how to live life one day at a time. Lois and I will be directing our funds to his Dr Mimi Bandopadhayay, a pediatric neurooncologist and scientist at the Bandolab @ DFCI, to help accelerate her research into the genetic mutation of the FGFR1 gene, to work on curing tumors like Declan’s.
Last year I raised $36,000 and I have made that my 2023 goal as well. I hope you will give generously to this important cause.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 14th. You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly, and it is making a difference in real lives.
2022
What a crazy couple of years! But after 2 years of Covid, the PMC is back up and riding at full speed As the weather turns warm and we pull our bikes out of the basement, Lois and I renew our enthusiasm and deep commitments to the PMC. It has become the highlight of our summers, motivating us to wake up on summer mornings for long training rides to make a difference. Amid this crazy pandemic and economic chaos, we need the PMC more that ever, to deliver the needed funds that will directly save lives and to brings us one step closer to a cure for cancer.
Since its founding in 1947, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts has been committed to providing adults and children with the best cancer treatment available today, while developing tomorrows cures through cutting-edge research.
The PMC has raised $831 million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since its launch in 1980. Today, the PMC is the single largest contributor to Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund, and is responsible for 55 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar raised by the PMC goes directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Over the past 33 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again and I will be riding for my niece Joslyn Spain who was diagnosed with breast cancer this winter. She had successful surgery in the last month and it looks like no radiation or chemotherapy is expected. Joslyn is positive, determined and returning to her active life as a working mother of three.
Last year I raised $35,000 and I have made that my 2022 goal as well. I hope you will continue to give generously to this important cause.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 15th. You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly, and it is making a difference in real lives.
2021
Wow! What a year. I hope this letter finds you doing well as we slowly get back to the new normal. Well, the PMC is back up and moving forward and on August 7th I will be riding in my 33rd PMC.
After a long year of Covid, Lois and I are returning with renewed enthusiasm and deeper commitments to both the ride and meet our goals. The PMC has become a highlight of our summers, motivating us to wake up on weekend mornings for long, hot training rides to make a difference in the fight against cancer. We will always be committed to the PMC, no matter what happens in our world!
The Pan-Mass Challenge is the single largest fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund, and raises more money for charity than any other single athletic event in the country. Founded in 1980, the PMC has raised nearly $819 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, through its Jimmy Fund.
Every year I dedicate my ride to someone who is battling cancer, and unfortunately I have a number of friends who are currently in this fight. But again this year it seems most appropriate that I dedicate my ride to all the Doctors, Nurses, Researchers, & First Responders who have tirelessly worked to save our friends, neighbors and community from this ravenous disease, and to all who continued their work at the Dana-Farber, treating patients and continuing life saving cancer research this past year.
Last year I raised $26,550 and I have made $30,000 my 2021 goal as well. Suzanne, in the past you have given $$$ and I hope you will continue to give generously to this important cause.
100 % of every rider-raised dollar raised by the PMC goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It will be no different this year. PMC donations are tax deductible and the PMC's tax ID / EIN is 04-2746912.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st.
You can also give on-line at: https://www.pmc.org/ Go to Donate at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help. There’s a lot riding on us and our efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. Thanks again for making miracles possible!
With love and appreciation,
2020
Over the past 31 years I have dreamed about the end of cancer, but I never could have imagined how a worldwide pandemic would change our lives so dramatically.
COVID-19 has made it impossible for 6500 riders to gather this August to ride across Massachusetts for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, but that doesn’t mean that our determination to battle this horrible disease has waned. Our collective vision has changed to the “PMC-Reimagined”! The need to raise funds for life-saving cancer research and treatment are still very necessary. We still plan to fundraise, train, and on PMC weekend, Lois, Ben and I are committed to riding both days in Massachusetts.
Why do we keep riding? Because amid this crazy pandemic and economic chaos, we need the PMC more that ever, to deliver the needed funds that will directly save lives and brings us one step closer to a cure. The Pan Mass Challenge is the single largest fundraiser for the Jimmy Fund. We will always be committed to the PMC, no matter where we ride.
Every year I dedicate my ride to someone who is battling cancer, and unfortunately I have a number of friends who are currently in this fight. But this year it seems most appropriate that I dedicate my ride to all the Doctors, Nurses, & First Responders who have tirelessly worked to save our friends, neighbors and community from this ravenous virus, and to all who continue their work at the Dana Farber treating patients and continuing their research during these difficult times.
100 percent of every rider-raised dollar raised by the PMC goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It will be no different this year. The PMC donated a record-breaking $63 million to Dana-Farber in 2019, bringing the PMC's 40-year fundraising total to $717 million.
Last year I raised $30,000 and I have made that my 2020 goal as well.
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in re
2019
30 years of riding the PMC! Who would have thought? I not sure what I was thinking, but there was no way I thought I would be riding this long. But that is the magic of this ride, The PMC has woven its way into so many aspects of my life and has become so much more than a weekend bike ride in August. It’s about riding for family members and friends battling this horrible disease. It’s our PMC friends, early morning train rides, weekend rides & get togethers. It’s all of you supporting us over the last 30 years, all the incredible people I have met on the ride and making life long friends.i
Over the past 30 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again and I will be riding for my dear friend & PMC volunteer, Paul Surface who was just diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had robotic surgery last week that was very successful and no further treatment is plannedat this time!
The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic — the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC.
This year our team will be riding for 6 year old Torren who is battling Leukemia Torren loves dinosaurs, nature, animals, science and anything that really gets him thinking! He loves doing arts and crafts when he goes into the Dana Farber for his weekly treatments.and all the food of course! He is very excited to be a part of the Pan-Mass Challenge and can’t wait to meet everyone.
This year our PMC team “FAT BOYS/slim sisters” will again be riding for Todd Balf who has battled and beat Chordama. Todd rode last year, and is unable to ride this year, but will be cheering us on.Chordoma is an extremely rare cancer of the bones in the skull base and spine. In the US, approximately 300 new instances occur annually; that’s literally one in a million. It’s rarity means research dollars are scarce making innovative treatments few and far between. Our team’s fundraising is making a huge impact here, especially with the Chordoma Foundation matching the money our team raises for the Dana-Farber! Last year with the matching funds, our team raised a combined $400,000 for the Dana-Farber lab of Dr. Cigall Kadoch.
The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that continues to raise more money for charity than any other single event in the country. In 2018, the PMC raised $56 million. Founded in 1980, the PMC has raised $654 million for cancer research and treatment for the DFCI through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $60 million in 2019 and if the PMC achieves its goal, Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne has pledged to donate an additional $1 million to the cause.
Last year I raised $34,000 and I have set my 2019 goal at $35,000 this year. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer!
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in real lives! Thanks so much!
The Straw Hat
It seems that I cry a least once on the PMC weekend, and this year was no exception. I just wasn't prepared for it to happen so soon.
We woke Saturday morning to the passing of a Canadian cold front that had pushed the oppressive heat and humidity of the past 8 weeks out to sea. As the ride commenced at 6 am, we were cold and goose bumps ran races around our bodies. Though no one said a word for how could we complain after training in record heat through the whole summer? The air was clear and the morning sunshine brought a crisp detail to everything we rode by. It was a beautiful morning and we seemed to roll up and down the hills with ease. Waving back to the wonderful supporters that lined our route too Provincetown, we exchanges hello's to our fellow riders as our group of 4 rolled along.
Somewhere around the 50-mile mark, we had just gone through one of those old Massachusetts mill towns, with its wonderful old brick buildings and a river wandering through the downtown area. We started to climb up the far side of the valley, the warm sun in our faces and a cold wind trying to hold our bikes back. The hill had several groups of supporters that help us along with their clapping, cheering and words of encouragement, and I wondered how they have been touched by cancer. At about the halfway point of the hill a strong gust of wind blew a straw hat out onto the road. I was the last one in our group and the one in the best position to retrieve it. So like an outfielder I yelled and; I got it and; and with a look over my shoulder I moved out into the middle of the road chasing the tumbling hat. I could see out of the corner of my eye a child trying to get to the hat, but her mother caught her and was holding her back from the road. The hat blew into my hand and I paused as a car passed between us. As I glanced towards the side of the road, I could see that the little girl was crying. This struck me as odd, for it was only a straw hat and she would have it within seconds ? why such big tears? But after 3 hours on the bike, the mind doesn't function too well.
I slowly pushed my bike to the side of the road with the hat in my hand, my vision completely fixed on the little girl and the tears running down her face. I reached the side of the road and handed her the hat. I smiled and she turned away in embarrassment, and I then finally focused on mom with her big blue eyes, her summer time dress dancing in the wind and her naked hairless head. She smiled back at me confidently and said and;Thanks.and; My words got stuck in my throat. I climbed back on my bike and she pulled the hat tightly over her head as I rode up the hill to catch the others.
Catching Chris, I started to explain what had happened. But before I could get half a sentence out, he started to cry. We rode in silence, with the wind drying the tears running down our faces.
If there was any doubt why I write all those letters and spend all that time on the bike, it was quickly erased. I ride for all those little girls and the wish that they may spend many August days with their moms.
PMC 2018
29 years ago this month, with my knee really hurting me from a ski accident in my teens, my orthopedic doctor suggested that I start riding a bike to help with the arthritic pain and stiffness. I searched for something to help motivate & focus me to ride more and a good friend recommend I check out the PMC. Little did I know what an important part of my life this event and cause would become. Who knew that I could make a difference and take care of my knee at the same time? And this year, when I line up at 5:30 am on August 4th to ride the PMC again, I will have a new knee & hip to power me all the 192 miles to Provincetown.
Why do we keep riding? Because we are making a difference! We now are seeing many cancers cured and I believe we are on the cusp of some amazing successes as doctors & researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are able to direct our immune systems and to modify our DNA (CISPR) to fight the battle against cancer!
Over the past 29 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again and I will be riding for my sister-in-law Athina Cornell, who was again diagnosed with breast cancer this winter. She had successful surgery and is now undergoing a round of radiation treatments. Athina is slowly returning to her active life as a working mother of 4 daughters. Annie, Ben, Lois and I will join my brother Mike, honoring his wife with our family goal of making the end of cancer a reality.
This year our PMC team “FAT BOYS/slim sisters” will be riding for and with Todd Balf who has battled and beat Chordama. Chordoma is an extremely rare cancer of the bones in the skull base and spine. In the US, approximately 300 new instances occur annually; that’s literally one in a million. It’s rarity means research dollars are scarce making innovative treatments few and far between. Our team’s fundraising can make a huge impact here, especially with the Chordoma foundation matching the money our team raises for the Dana-Farber!
The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that continues to raise more money for charity than any other single event in the country. In 2017, the PMC raised $51 million. Founded in 1980, the PMC has raised $600 million for cancer research and treatment for the DFCI through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $52 million in 2018; Last year I raised $29,000 and I have set my 2018 goal at $30,000 this year. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer!
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in real lives! Thanks so much!
Linc
2016
27 years ago as I got my old 10-speed bike tuned-up and entered my first PMC, little did I know what an important part of my life this event and cause would become. I knew no one on the ride, but knew I wanted to make a difference. In my 27 years the ride has gone from 600 to 6000 riders; from $1 million to $45 million raised a year! We now are seeing many cancers cured and I believe we are on the cusp of some amazing success as the doctors & researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are able to get our immune systems to fight our battle against cancer
The ride has also become a family affair. This year Annie will be joining Ben, Lois and me along with my brother and niece. We will also be joined by 5 friends from college - how great is that!!
We will be riding for my college buddy Michael Hartnett who has been successfully treated at Dana Farber for his prostate cancer. And our team funds will be going to help his doctor and her research. Dr. Mary-Ellen Taplin is the Director of Clinical Research at the Lank Center for Genitourinary Oncology at DFCI. Our team goal is to raise $300,000 for Dr. Taplin in 2016.
The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic — the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC. This year our team will be riding for 4-year-old Bea.
In August 2014, Bea was diagnosed with leukemia. Her family was in Children’s Hospital for a couple of months with Bea, and she is now getting her treatment as an outpatient in the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Bea was very excited last year to have her own bike team and her family really loved being part of it because it made this a fun experience.
Ba is doing well. She's grown quite a bit in the past 6 months. She's still consistently getting infusions, etc., but they have now got a finish line in sight: in September, she'll wrap up her final chemo cycle and should be, fingers crossed, finished with treatments for good. Bea plans to start pre-school in the fall as long as all goes well.
Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. The power of coming together to fight this battle is not something we take lightly and it is making a difference in real lives! Thanks so much!
Linc
2014
25 years ago this week, overweight, with a bad knee, and on the eve of becoming a Dad, I signed up for the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge. With my longest ride having been no more than 20 miles, little did I know that this journey would change my life and become so much a part of my world. As I have said in the past, the PMC is one big family a unified family force working toward a common goal of making cancer a thing of the past.
Each year Lois and I return with renewed enthusiasm and deeper commitments to both the ride and our goal. It has become the highlight of our summers, motivating us to wake up on weekend mornings for long training rides to make a difference. Regardless of our physical condition, those of us who ride in the PMC go to the starting line with an emotional commitment to help others, while joining in an effort that is much larger than ourselves. In return, we experience a powerfully inspiring weekend, we connect with our old friends, we make new friends, and become a part of an incredible extended family, while raising money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. We will not rest until cancer is a thing of the past!
The PMC is an annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic event in the country. The organization was founded in 1980 and it has raised nearly $414 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. In 2013 the PMC contributed $39 million, representing 60% of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue and 100% of every rider-raised dollar going directly to the Dana Farber. The PMC is so well known in cycling and fundraising circles that each year people travel from around the world to participate. The camaraderie shared by riders, volunteers, and supporters is so strong that even the doctors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute join their patients as teammates, riding toward our unified goal.
On August 2nd and 3rd, Lois and I will once again take to the road for the PMC. Over the past 25 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year, cancer has struck close to home again… and I will be riding for my sister-in-law Athina Cornell who was diagnosed with breast cancer this winter. She had successful surgery and fortunately no future treatment is expected. Athina is slowly returning to her active life as a working mother of 4 daughters. Lois, Ben and I along with our niece Morgan, will join my brother Mike, honoring his wife with our family goal of making the end of cancer a reality.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $40 million in 2014 and I have set my goal at $30,000 this year. If we raise $30,000, our fundraising team will break a pretty awesome goal we will have raised $500,000 in 25 years. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue to making a difference in the fight against cancer! Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st. You can also give on line at www.PMC.org. Go to egifts at the top of the page and enter my rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. Thanks again for making miracles possible!
With love and appreciation, Linc
After 24 years of riding the PMC, it has woven its way into so many aspects of my life and has become so much more than a weekend bike ride in August. It’s about family: Ben is joining Lois and me, along with my brother Mike and our niece Morgan for this years ride. And it’s about riding for family members and friends battling this horrible disease. It’s about our PMC friends, early morning train rides, weekend rides & get togethers. It’s all of you supporting us over all these years, all the incredible people I have met on the ride and making life long friends. It’s about our friends coming together to form a PMC team ?? The “Fat Boys and Slim Sisters”. It’s about our team raising money to help with Neuroblastoma and Pancreatic cancer research. And this year its about riding for Erica Kaitz, who was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) a very rare cancer and our 2013 combined team funds going into LMS research at the Dana Farber. It’s about our Pedal Partner, 7 year old Hailey Olson who is battling brain cancer. Hailey’s brain tumor returned this year, but she is keeping a positive attitude with the help of her family and this is why we ride! It’s about our team chipping in this past winter to send Hailey on a dream Caribbean kids cruise. It about starting off the PMC weekend with a Friday morning Jimmy Fund golf tournament, which raises additional monies for the Dana Farber. It’s about volunteering the week after the PMC, and it’s about supporting all the doctors, nurses, scientists, etc. who work tirelessly to make the dream of the end of cancer a reality!
The Pan Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. In 2012, the PMC raised $37 million. The organization was founded in 1980 and it has raised $375 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
I wanted to share this photo of our pedal partner Hailey Olson, her Mom and our team at the Pedal Partner water stop last year. The Pedal Partner Program is an inspiring way for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric oncology patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic ?? the very children who receive the most advanced treatments and state-of-the-art care as a result of the funds raised by the PMC.
On August 3 and 4, we will once again take to the road for the PMC. Over the past 24 years I have dedicated my ride to someone who is battling cancer. This year I will be riding for my good friend, David Kleeman who is battling CLL, chronic lymphocytic leukemia which is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow.
The PMC’s goal is to raise $38 million in 2013 and I have set my goal at $30,000. Please join us by making the PMC your avenue for making a difference in the fight against cancer.To reach our goal this year, I will need all of the 150 families that made up last year’s fund-raising team, plus a few more, so if you would forward this letter on to one other person we can reach this goal together!
Please make your check out to “PMC/Jimmy Fund”. Then return it to me: Linc Cornell, 31 Farm Hill Road, Natick, MA 01760 by July 1st.
You can also give on-line at www.PMC.org. Go to Donate button at the top of the page and enter my name or rider ID # LC0008. Please contribute as generously as possible and help us in our continuing efforts to help wipe cancer off the face of the earth. Thanks again for making miracles possible.
Thanks!!! Linc
Welcome to my PMC page! The PMC is a really important part of my world and an event that has enabled me to give back. The PMC has taught me many of life's great lessons, one of which is the more you give in life the more you receive!
2012
I was moved to ride my first PMC 23 years ago in memory of my second grade friend Debbie who died of a brain tumor. It was a confusing and upsetting experience for a 7 year old at the time, but one that still motivates me today to make a difference and try to end this horrible disease. Riding the PMC for all those years has been an amazing experience. Every year, I feel the support of the staff, the volunteers, all the other riders and my sponsors. I ride because I can. Riding the PMC is a positive effort that combines with the positive efforts of thousands of other riders and creates something much bigger than all of us. Even though it gets harder each year to get on the bike and get into shape, my commitment continues to grow stronger for this tremendous event and our battle against cancer. In the face of a disease that leaves me feeling so helpless, riding the PMC gives me hope.
2011
This year, I will also be riding for my friend Sam Zoll who passed away this month from a year-long battle with gallbladder cancer. I met Sam, a 27-year rider, during my second year on the PMC. Sam was a big man in every way and I savored our once-a-year beers after our long Saturday ride into Bourne. Sam was passionate about the PMC and played a key role in its evolution. I want to share some excerpts’ from an elegant letter Sam wrote in 2004 about how he felt about the PMC:
“My thoughts about the PMC embrace the impact on consciousness raising and the depth of commitment by people from all walks of life who have converted unremitting sadness of personal tragedy into an unsung effort to be part of a hopeful cure.
The ride, in its earliest years, was a blend of those whose lives were touched by cancer and those who thought the physical accomplishment of riding two days over 200 miles put them in an elite category. With the passage of time, this blend was sublimated to a uniting sense that miles ridden and personal time records were not what the event was or is all about.
The predicate was that the pain of steep hills paled in comparison to the pain that the event was seeking to abate. The numbers grew geometrically and our understanding of the ramifications of the disease became more profound.
As immodest as it may sound, each rider and volunteer feels that she or he owns a piece of this progress. Station in life, variances in monetary contribution, differences in personalities and athletic talent have all been made to yield to the commonality of this seriousness of purpose and pursuit of accomplishment.
In my judgment, this endeavor is a role model in the charitable world of the triumph of lean administration over bureaucracy, thus preserving the donated funds for their states purpose. Most importantly, the event itself is a unique example of the application of physical and emotional strength wherein the finish line of contribution intersects with the euphoria of the wonderful feeling that you have helped somebody else have a better and fuller life. Such feeling is unmatchable.”
2010
Seven years ago I organized our friends into an official PMC team, The FAT BOYS/ Slim Sisters. We rode for 4-year-old Ian Emery who is battling neuroblastoma. Ian had been in remission from Neuroblastoma for over 2 and a half years. Unfortunately, 3 summers later, during a routine check up, the doctors found a tumor in his liver which has been diagnosed as Hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer, probably caused by his initial treatment. Ian had surgery to remove the tumor and of his liver and then started 4 rounds of chemo. And at this time, Ian is clear of both cancers. Our team has raised $1,545,000, which was directed to fight neuroblastoma, and goes into the Friends for Life Neuroblastoma Endowed Fellowship Fund. With our help, Friends for Life was able to reach their goal and hired 3 permanent researcher for neuroblastoma at the Farber. 10 years ago, only 1 out of 10 children diagnosed with neuroblastoma survived. Today, thanks to research conducted at Dana Farber, 6 out of 10 children with late stage neuroblastoma will achieve 3-year remission of their disease. Our team this year will again be riding for Ian and the Friends for Life Fund.
I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list.
| 2025 | $283.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2024 | $41,447.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2023 | $36,675.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2022 | $36,755.05 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2021 | $35,770.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2020 | $26,550.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2019 | $30,141.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2018 | $33,923.81 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2017 | $29,102.21 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2016 | $23,869.50 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2015 | $24,475.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2014 | $25,528.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2013 | $26,342.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2012 | $24,487.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2011 | $27,799.50 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2010 | $26,473.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2009 | $24,822.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2008 | $27,882.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2007 | $28,472.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2006 | $33,787.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2005 | $28,267.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2004 | $29,163.50 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2003 | $20,615.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2002 | $21,942.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2001 | $19,082.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2000 | $21,429.50 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 1999 | $17,492.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 1998 | $17,317.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 1997 | $16,827.00 | PMC Rider |
| 1996 | $16,155.00 | PMC Rider and Volunteer |
| 1995 | $15,131.00 | PMC Rider and Volunteer |
| 1994 | $15,500.65 | PMC Rider and Volunteer |
| 1993 | $10,195.00 | PMC Rider and Volunteer |
| 1992 | $8,124.40 | PMC Rider and Volunteer |
| 1991 | $5,000.00 | PMC Rider and Volunteer |
| 1990 | $4,328.84 | PMC Rider |
