On Saturday, August 3rd, I completed my 19th Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) – an 84-mile bicycle ride to raise funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Thanks to your generous support, my fund raising efforts over the past 19 years have cumulatively exceeded $200,000. The PMC overall has raised more than $1 billion since its inception in 1980. Thank you for being a part of my journey!

The weather was near perfect this year, with temperatures in the 60s and 70s - a welcome relief after last year's extreme heat and humidity. Combined with more strategic training, the 84-mile ride from Wellesley to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne felt far less challenging than last year. But the PMC always brings new challenges, and this year, I learned to endure mechanical problems.

My ride was going beautifully for the first 80 miles. Then, in Wareham with just 5 miles remaining, disaster struck. I was riding in a small group at about 15 mph when my back wheel and pedals suddenly locked up, causing my bike to jerk to an abrupt stop. The rider behind me yelled something decidedly unfriendly as he barely navigated around me. In that split second, my cat-like reflexes kicked in and I managed to unclip from my pedals, stop my momentum, and get my feet on the ground just quickly enough to avoid the faceplant that I had instantly feared.

Fortunately, I didn't crash and didn't cause anyone else to either. My bike, however, was finished for the day. A spoke on my rear wheel had come loose and tangled itself in my chain, badly warping the wheel in the process. Despite the deep frustration, I was grateful not to have been hurt and, oddly, a little relieved to stop pedaling.

I called the SAG (Support and Gear) wagon to take my bike and me the last few miles to Bourne. While I was waiting, a small group of riders stopped nearby. One of them, Ari, had skidded earlier that day, leaving a worn patch on his tire. As a result, he kept blowing tubes and had just popped another one. As we chatted waiting for the SAG wagon, it occurred to me that if I lent him my front tire, he could replace his damaged rear tire and finish the ride. I offered, and he agreed. Ari ended up getting to the Mass Maritime Academy faster than I did in the SAG wagon! Later, we met up and swapped the tire back to my bike. At least one of us rode to the finish line! Ultimately, I was relieved to finally shower and enjoy my free beer and burger.

While my mechanical failure was frustrating, it didn’t compare to what people endure from cancer. In the end I still had fun. Cancer is not fun. The point of all this is to raise funds and awareness for Dana-Farber. As I’ve mentioned before, thousands of bystanders encourage us with, “Thank You for Riding!” but the thanks belongs to you, so from them, through me, to you - THANKS!!”

Remember, the PMC is an extremely efficient charity fund-raising event. It charges riders to participate and uses sponsors to underwrite the cost of the ride, so this year's $76 million target will include 100% of your donations. It’s important to me that I can assure you of the PMC’s efficiency, so rest assured that your full donations are going to Dana-Farber.

I am still hoping to meet my donation target for the ride, so please forward this message to anyone you think might be interested in donating. Donations can be made here. I’m quite a ways from my $20,000 goal, and every bit of support is helpful! If you would prefer, you can send a check to the address below made out to The Pan-Mass Challenge, and I will forward your donation.

Again, I am very grateful for your support.

Thanks,

Matthew E. Sullivan

12 Windom Street

Somerville, MA 02144