After supporting the PMC for many years by donating to friends and colleagues who were riding, my wife Laura and I volunteered at the Lakeville Water Stop in 2013. I was so completely blown away by the experience that I signed up to ride my first PMC in 2014. I didn't own a bike. But, I'm living the PMC slogan, Commit. You'll figure it out., and I now own a bike, own biking apparel, and have successfully completed the Pan-Mass Challenge... SEVEN TIMES.
I'm riding in memory of Caroline (Calle) Cronk. Calle was 5 years old when she lost her battle to cancer on July 18, 2013. She was in my son Harry's first grade class when she was diagnosed in November 2012 with a rare, inoperable brain tumor called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). Her family has taken what is devastating news and focused all their energy on the positive. Since Calle's diagnosis, her family has raised more than $1 Million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support an ambitious trial that uses brain-stem biopsies drawn from a handful of children nationwide presently afflicted with DIPG.
At Calle's funeral, I was given a grey wristband. The writing on it has long since faded, but I know what it said :
Fight DIPG. win. That is why I ride.
Eight years ago, in my first PMC, as I rode eighty-some-odd miles in the pouring rain on the first day of the ride, I passed by a young girl standing on the side of the road. She would've been about Calle's age. She held a sign that said, I'm eight months Cancer-Free. Thank you. Today, I hope she's a happy, healthy 14 year-old out there. That's why I ride.
And more recently, two amazing women I'm in my hometown - wonderful wives and mothers, both funny, smart, athletic, kind and generous friends - lost their battles with breast cancer. The world was better and brighter with them in it. Cancer took them away. That's why I ride.
In addition to riding, I've committed to raise at least $10,000. Please donate by clicking on the Donate to my ride link on this page. Thanks for your support.
About the PMC and Team PTC.
The PMC is the largest single fundraising event for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund, contributing more than 55% of all funds raised. On the weekend of August 6-7, Team PTC will join more than 6,500 cyclists and 4,000 volunteers in the PMC by riding 190 miles across Massachusetts, through more than 20 cities and towns. To date, Team PTC has raised over $1,500,000 with support from corporate partners, employees, and individual sponsors. We have a big goal to raise over $150,000.
