Six years ago, my family and I started riding the PMC in memory of our friend Davey. Team CRUS11TOUR now counts hundreds of riders and millions of dollars raised for critical cancer research. The weekend is a constant source of light for us. Just as Davey was.
We all haven’t made it to Massachusetts every year. Between newborns and weddings, life sometimes gets in the way. But every August, wherever we are, we jump on our bikes to honor Davey.
The catalyst has always been my Dad. Year in and year out, he collects the gear, plans the route, and makes regular calls to confirm we are in fact training. When the day arrives, he leads the family peloton. Often for long enough that we might as well have hitched ourselves to the back of his seat.
He doesn’t have off years and, as Strava will attest, never gets heavy legs. With him, dogged consistency is king. And we do our best to follow suit.
Which is why the call I got last September was so confusing. He had cancer and needed aggressive, immediate treatment. For a man who seemed impenetrable, it felt like they were reading the wrong chart. But there it was.
He approached treatment the same way he does training: with quiet, resolute consistency. He did all the right things – diet, exercise, sleep. Through six double rounds of chemotherapy, he focused on what he could control. For any Sam Hinkie disciples, it was a clinic.
And yet, the chemo didn’t work. The tumor was still there. The disease was still progressing.
What happened next is why we keep asking family, friends, and colleagues to give. A few months ago, my Dad was placed on a new immunotherapy, approved only last December. And though it’s early, the results have been remarkable. For the first time in a long time, we’ve got something to hold onto.
This is why we ride. Treatment quality is improving. Options are expanding. And support for critical research efforts at institutions like Dana-Farber is the reason why.
We’re almost there. Your generosity will help ensure we make it.
In addition to Davey and my Dad, I ride for Eileen and Bruce Dold. I love you both.
