Why I Ride ...
Thank you to everyone who has come to this site to check out the event and to consider making a donation. I ride the PMC because of a debt of gratitude I owe to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. My mom, Joan Murphy, lived with extensive and recurrent colon cancer for 8 years. She had several surgeries, multiple rounds of chemo, radiation, and take home chemo. She had it all. The really awesome thing about the whole experience was what a gift those 8 years were. Really, despite all that she went through, we got to see our mom at her absolute BEST. She was courageous and optimistic in a way that has turned into a gift and a legacy for us, her children and grandchildren. Every next day was going to be a good one, she was going to do things her way no matter what, and she was NOT going to spend one single second on anything unimportant. She was awesome and we miss her desperately. The care that she received at the Dana Farber allowed her to totally "do cancer" on her terms. Her care team at Dana Farber really "got" her and wrapped her in loving, expert care for years. We are eternally grateful
To honor my mom, my brother Kevin and I ride a tandem together for the PMC. We get to see so much from the bike. We see people "doing the ride" their way. Some people find comfort and meaning riding in a group and some take time to contemplate the ride alone.
People along the route are the same. Some people come out in huge groups. One whole street along the way is a big neighborhood party.
Other people sit all alone at the end of their driveway holding a sign that says "Thank you, I am a survivor".
It seems that there is just the right mix of whimsy and somber.
For us, it is all about finding a giggle. We just crack each other up trying to coordinate standing while we climb hills with my face smashing into his back. I take time to wave to a friend only to hear Kevin yell...."Hey--are we sightseeing or pedaling???"
This is how our family has always coped with cancer and I think my mother would be pleased.
My mother received her care at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and to this day, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. Everybody deserves to have hope and access to world class cancer treatment.
We ride for my mom, my dad, and for your mom and dad, cousin, brother, sister. We are all in this together. Please join my pace line in honor of someone you know and love. It would be my privilege to ride with you and for you.
Thank you so very much.
Laurie
