In May of 2018, I lost my beloved dad to prostate cancer. It's hard to believe that six years have passed since I saw his beautiful smile and heard his infectious laughter. My dad's cancer journey was a terrible and slow decline, and it was so awful to see him suffer so much. He had never been in the hospital a day of his life, and from Nov 2017 to April 2018, he was in and out of the Brigham many times, each time getting weaker and weaker but never losing the sparkle of his beautiful blue eyes.
We also spent many hours at Dana Farber with hundreds of cancer patients. My heart opened up more and more each time I saw so many people struggling like my dad, yet somehow holding onto hope. I still cannot believe he is physically gone, but his beautiful soul is always present in my heart.
In the early years when I did the PMC--1990-2000, I would stay at my parent's home near Sturbridge, and he would take me to the start, help me get organized, and, of course, stand along the course yelling my name. Then he and my mom would drive the route all the way, stopping and sharing in the festivities in Bourne, and then drive to Sturbridge, where they would patiently await my arrival. Then, they would drive back to Boston and meet me at the Ferry Terminal to wave me off the boat with the crowds of family and friends.
Like many areas of my life, they participated vicariously, lovingly, and with unabashed pride in the PMC. My fellow riders became their friends; my excitement became the PMC weekend, which was always the highlight of our summer. When, in 2004, my mother was dying from Lymphoma at Brigham, our relationship with the PMC went full circle, as it so tragically and often does. We experienced the profound care and sensitivity of the Dana Farber doctors and nurses. After my mom died, my dad and I rode the PMC three times together in memory of my mother.
I am committed to raising $8000 for cancer research by riding in the 2024 Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). I know that you may have lost mothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, grandmothers, and other loved ones to cancer, and I want to thank you for your generous support of my annual ride.
I am excited to ride my third year with Team FLAME ( Fast Legs And Minds Ending Suffering), whose super team leaders, JD and Cindy Hale, are constantly inspiring.
This year, I am dedicating my ride to Dave Moriah, the inspirational founder of Cornell's Outdoor Education, who provided the spark for my long career in outdoor education and the founding of Ciclismo Classico. Dave is a beautiful soul who has been on his own stage-four cancer journey since February 2023. You can learn more about this journey here.
While we may not escape cancer soon, it is clear from my 29 years of riding the Pan-Mass Challenge, the number one athletic fundraising event in the country, that we ARE making progress. Thanks to the PMC, which has raised over 972 million dollars to fight this terrible disease and is on its way to its BILLION dollar milestone
The PMC remains the country's number one athletic fundraising event. It generates half of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue and is Dana Farber's largest contributor. Most importantly, the PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
I thank you for your support and ask that you PLEASE donate to my 2024 PMC ride in memory of my mom, my dad, and your loved ones who are suffering or were taken too soon by this terrible disease. In the midst of darkness, the PMC is a powerful Ray of Hope for all cancer victims and their families.
As you know, I am not a fickle participant either! Since 1991, I have raised $136,000 and ridden over 5,700 miles for the PMC. This year, my fundraising goal is $8,000
Pledging online is easy and takes minutes.
Thank YOU
