In October 2001 I was shocked to find out my mother was afflicted with a fatal glioblastoma. Her battle against this insidious monster was brief and she was gone by January 2002. Thanks to Tom LeBlanc and Deanna Clarance I discovered the PMC as a way to fight back and I rode for 8 consecutive years with Tom, Deanna and Team Kinetic Karma. Most years we rode from the New York border in Hillsdale to Sturbridge (The Friday Ride) and then on to the Provincetown Inn on Saturday and Sunday.

After a two year absence, I return to the PMC riding for the first time with my daughter, Lee Anne. We will be riding this year with Team Lizard from Wellesley to the Provincetown Inn with the Mittelman family. In the two years away from the PMC cancer did not step away and took a number of friends and family: Arthur Obermayer to prostate cancer, Christine Jaworek-Lopes at a young age to colon cancer, Jeff Levine to melanoma, Derek Boggs to liver cancer and Peggy (Bickimer) Bell to glioblastoma. We also lost Dan Ibbitson to a tragic mountain biking accident. I return to riding the PMC in support of those we have lost recently and all the friends and family lost in the past. I also ride in support of friends and PMC teammates like Dave Lafreniere and Theresa Welch.

Thank you for your support and we do get closer to cures with each mile we pedal thanks to the research we sponsor and support at DFCI. I will turn 65 this year and feel blessed to have good health and hope to ride (the full route) in this event for at least another 10 years.

Mike

My Links

Team Lizard http://profile.pmc.org/TL0046

Team Kinetic Karma http://profile.pmc.org/TK0045