As they say in the PMC world, “Commit, you’ll figure it out”. So, I apologize that I’m a little late on my fundraising efforts and I hope I can count on your support.
As most of you know, last year I rode in my first PMC! There are not enough words to even begin to describe the experience, but humbling, amazing, challenging and rewarding are a few that come to mind. There are so many emotions along the ride and the amount of people who cheer you on along the route is unbelievable. It was AWESOME to say the least.
Here are some of the takeaways from year #1. It is unexplainable how good it feels to take a shower after the first 110 miles, to be rewarded with a massage, to enjoy a beer a cold, to feel the light breeze from the ocean and to hear the sound of music as you fade in and out and finally into exhausted slumber. But beyond all that, the best part of all was the support of my family. My wife and 2 sons showed up unannounced at 5AM in Sturbridge to surprise me with an unbelievable banner, tight hugs and good luck kisses to support what I was about to do. Thank you, Dorothy, Jackson, and Gavin, for allowing me to continue in 2024 for year number two.
After last year’s PMC I found myself with a surprising feeling of depression because it was over, like something was now missing, like something had come to an end. As the days go on and life continues, life returns to the normal… until one day your phone rings and everything changes. I was sitting in a laundromat during a soccer tournament away from home, drying Jackson’s and his teammate’s uniforms from a rain drenched match so that they could be dry for their second game and my phone rang. It was Justin, one of my best friends growing up in the neighborhood (the kind of friend that if you haven’t talked or hung out in a while, when you do it’s like it was just yesterday). He said you have a minute to talk. When your friend calls you up out of the blue and says that, it can’t be good news. Yeah, what’s up..! I said. His response- I have cancer, in an instant when someone your age says that your whole life cycles through your mind and it becomes unimaginable that this has happened. After we got off the phone I remember sitting in the corner of the laundromat and tears were just streaming down my face, feeling helpless and overwhelmed with emotion about the conversation I just had.
Justin and I had met up a bunch of times before his surgery to watch the Bruins and catch up. I told him that I would ride this year’s PMC in his honor. I committed to personally match what I raised for the PMC to help him offset his expenses and whatever he didn’t need I would donate it to the PMC in his name.
So, this year I’m riding for my friend, Justin Lemke, who is now cancer free.
Like so many others, cancer has impacted my family members and close friends. I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. 100% of rider-raised revenue goes DIRECTLY to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure. Thank you for your support.
