PAN MASS Challenge ACCEPTED AGAIN for 2021.  YUP, the sign up in January came and I did not even think twice about whether or not to sign up.  It felt not only natural, but the start of a tradition.  This marks my 4th year of making this commitment.  Since I signed up in January, I seem to find myself reflecting as to why I ride more than ever.  Cancer has not really hit my family.  It has not directly impacted me with a family loved one.  I think I am unbelievably incredibly fortunate in that respect. My mom might point out that her Dad, my Grampa Chamberlain, had cancer. But he was in his mid-70’s when it occurred and I was relatively too young to understand. 

However, I know WAY too many others that either have passed or are currently dealing (impacted) with Cancer. I could start the list right here.  But let’s just agree this list is long.  It has way too many deceased names and it has even more with folks currently battling some form of this awful disease. And if I were to reach out to each of you, our list would grow exponentially.  So, I am back at the “why do I ride”.  It is pretty well established I started to support my friend and teammate trying to make sense out of a tragic loss of his son Davey at 26 years of age from Glioblastoma.  Today, I ride with not only the memory of Davey, but both the memory of those I know that have been lost.  And more importantly, those that have Successfully battled Cancer and are still around to talk about it.  Five years ago, this list was relatively small.  Today, the list of those successfully beating Cancer is getting longer.  

This is why I ride.  I ride for the memory of those lost, and so I don’t have the memories of those currently battling. 

I didn’t know much about Dana Farber prior to Crus11tour.  Learning about the Dana Farber Tiger Trusts in which various teams are sharing and collaborating their research results is substantially increasing the knowledge and ultimate treatment for so many different forms of Cancer.  Dr. Reardon and his Glioblastoma research are making progress. And will continue to make further progress with your help. The CRUS11TOUR has been an incredibly successful fundraising team.  With your support last year during the pandemic, CRUS11TOUR raised over $545,000.  And the total Pan Mass Challenge raised $50,000,000.

I am asking you if you would be willing to help me again this year. I appreciate any amount of support you can give.

Please use this link to make your donation:  https://donate.pmc.org/PS0259 , or you can write an individual check and send to my work address below.  This will eliminate the processing fee associated with electronic payment system on the PMC site.

I officially kicked of the training season Saturday April 1 with my first outdoor ride of 35 miles!   The physical challenge will be 209 miles over the Pan Mass weekend. The traditional first leg from Sturbridge to Bourne will be ridden on Saturday, 109 miles. We will then transport up to Boston, spend the night and ride the Wellesley Century Sunday, a new segment ride that starts and ends at Babson College.