Why I Ride 2025

Dear Sponsor,

Here I go again! I just registered for the 2025 Pan-Mass Challenge. The PMC is an annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other event in the country. Last year we raised a record $75,000,000 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We also exceeded a BILLION dollars raised since the first PMC in 1980. 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to DFCI.

That’s all good info to know, but you’re probably wondering why I’m still riding the PMC after 20 years.

I started riding for Erika, who succumbed to a brain tumor when she was just 6 years old. She used to tell people she “spells her name with a “K” because it’s strong and straight, and she’s too bold for a curlyque “C.”

Then I kept riding for my husband Greg, who was treated at Dana-Farber for three years for a rare form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Despite the excellent care we received, they couldn’t achieve a sustained remission. We lost him in 2012.

I ride in celebration of survivorship for my niece, Emily, who was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 6 years old. Last December, she celebrated her 42nd birthday!

I ride for my partner, John, who is a 2 time cancer survivor. I’m grateful to have someone special to share my life with again.

The list goes on, but you get the idea…

Researchers are making great strides in cancer treatment and care. Survivors are living longer with improved quality of life and every penny I can raise toward that end is a triumph. That’s why it’s so important to me to continue to ride and raise money to help Dana-Farber in their fight against cancer. This is my 20th year riding, and my goal is to raise $20,000. Won’t you help by giving what you can?

If there is someone special that you would like me to ride for, please share their name and whether it is in honor, or in memory. You can donate online by clicking on this link: https://profile.pmc.org/MD0202. If you prefer, you can write a check made out to PMC and mail it to me at 6 Sterling Lane, Westford, MA 01886.

I am grateful and excited to be riding with my son, Evan, again this year!

I thank you in advance for your generosity and your continued support.

Blessings,

Marcia