For the past five summers I have been away for ten weeks in the Colorado Rockies and have thus missed the opportunity to ride the PMC, this year, when I realized I would be available to ride, it was an easy and simple decision to ride again.

I ride the PMC for a few reasons, but the main reason and driving force behind my decision to ride is the death of my grandmother from melanoma. I loved spending time with her, just like everyone who knew her, but her cancer took her away from this world too soon. Her loss has deeply and continuously affected my whole family and all of her friends and I do not wish that anyone should feel the pain that my family felt at her passing, nor do I wish that anyone should have to suffer as my grandmother did. Too many people that I know are affected by cancer, and I have no words to express my feelings except to say - it absolutely sucks. My father is “living proof” having survived testicular cancer, my first ever summer camp counselor has Hodgkin’s lymphoma, my mother's dear friend recently lost her struggle with this disease, my neighbor, who played a significant part in my childhood, has been ripped from this earth, and so many of my friends lose relatives to this horrible plague.

Initially, I just wanted to ride the PMC to ride with my father, but there are truly many more reasons. I feel pain seeing the people I love go through treatment, and I can only imagine their anguish. Even if nothing is discovered soon enough to help the people I know and love, I want to do what I can to prevent future suffering.

I ride for everyone who suffers from cancer, for everyone who has suffered a loss to cancer, and for the memory of my Bubby Barb who I miss dearly and will always remember with incredible love.