2024 - my 31st PMC - I keep riding because cancer is still among us, I and will continue riding as long as my legs will carry me, getting closer by the mile to a cure. Looking back on my 31 years, I could not be more proud of my association with the Pan Mass Challenge. Cancer is a cause that literally affects everyone directly or indirectly, and the PMC is not only the biggest athletic fundraiser in the country, but also the largest contributor to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, one of the most prestigious cancer research and treatment centers in the world. 100% of what PMC riders raise goes directly to DFCI - yes, 100% of your gift makes a direct impact on people's lives. That makes it easy to ask for your support, this year, and every year. I don't take one dollar for granted - I could not do this without my incredible sponsors who believe in the PMC mission. I hope you'll consider coming along for the ride again this year; you may not be on a bike, but your support pushes me along every mile, and your loved ones are in my heart as I pedal.
Read on for more of my PMC story, and please know how much I appreciate and cherish your support, always.
My Pan Mass Challenge story began thirty one years ago, in the spring of 1993. I read about the PMC on a bulletin board at Children's Hospital, where I was visiting Zachary Crawford, infant son of my dear friends Linda and David. Zachary was born in February 1993, with an extra renal rhabdoid tumor and was being treated at the Dana Farber's Jimmy Fund Clinic. Already an avid long distance cyclist, I had heard of the PMC, but had no idea it was a benefit for the Jimmy Fund. Once I made the connection, I signed up immediately, determined to do whatever I could to raise money for an organization that was doing so much for Zachary and the Crawfords. Zachary lost his battle with cancer on July 13, 1993. I rode in my first Pan Mass Challenge 3 weeks later.
At that point, I never knew how much more personal the PMC would become for me. In April 2001, my world was turned upside down when I lost my mother, Priscilla. PMC 2001 was particularly emotional for me; as sad as I was, I knew my mother would be proud that I continued to ride, and her inspiration keeps me riding year after year.
Cancer has visited my extended family many other times over the years; I've lost my uncles, an aunt, a grandmother, my dear brother-in-law, Chris, and my brother-in-law, Father Tom. My cousin Priscilla (named for my Mom) is a many year cancer survivor, most certainly a beneficiary of the research that the PMC funds. Another cousin's husband was successfully treated this year for Merkel cell. Of course we'd like to eradicate cancer, but until we do, early detection and successful treatment are our interim goals, and the PMC's impact on life-saving treatment is significant and ongoing.
Since my first PMC, in addition to Zachary and family members, many other people in my life and my friends' lives, have been touched by cancer and I ride for all of them, in memory of those who lost their fight and honor of those who have conquered cancer or are still struggling with it. It would take volumes to list all of the people I ride in memory or in honor of; 31 years worth of pedalling for so many loved ones. The numbers grow daily. That's why I keep riding, why the PMC keeps growing, and why we will never quit.
I've raised approximately $190,000 since I started riding. In 1993, I joined 1300 other riders in raising $2.3 million for the Jimmy Fund. This year, I'll take to the bike with over 6000 other cyclists, with a goal of $75 million. Over $35 million has been raised to date of that goal, bringing the 45 year PMC fundraising total to over $1 billion! Amazing!!!
As I mentioned above, 100% of every dollar raised by riders is donated to charity - 100%! That is unprecedented, and a big reason I continue to ride. I am proud to ride with Team LUNGstrong for the twelfth year in a row, raising funds for the LUNGstrong fund, in memory of my mother, whose cancer started in her lungs. Our team captain, Diane Daniels Legg, has been living with stage 4 lung cancer for almost 20 years; she is a tireless advocate for research and has done incredible work to raise money and awareness for a cancer that is NOT limited to those who've smoked. It's an honor to ride with and for her.
The PMC has become a way of life for me. Anyone who rides it will tell you that it is far more than just a bike ride. It is a collective energy of hope, giving and healing, one that I can't imagine not being a part of. Every person who gets on a bike that weekend does so for their own reasons, and during PMC weekend all of our personal motivations become one as we hit the road and start the long weekend of pedaling. It's hard to summarize the Pan Mass Challenge in a short piece - I could write volumes. Suffice it to say that the spirit of the PMC lives in each rider and each volunteer year-round, and comes together in a most extraordinary way the first weekend of August each year.
Thank you for reading my story. If you have any questions, please email me. If you'd like to sponsor me, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. An e-gift link is on this page which will enable you to donate by credit card or Venmo, or let me know at marycamp46@comcast.net and I can send you a pledge form and envelope. (Checks can be made payable to PMC.)
Most of all I ask for your prayers and positive thoughts for all of the PMC riders who will be riding the first weekend of August, as we get closer by the mile to a cure.
With appreciation and love,
Mary
