I will do this ride for and with my father, Harry M. Carey, Jr. He is in the cover photo with my son and me, one day after completing his 11th PMC in 2016. He is in the center of the first photo in my gallery (click on our picture), with his riding partners Sylvia Dandrata and Bob Ernst, riding through Orleans Marsh during his third Pan Mass Challenge. He will ride his sixteenth PMC this year for Team Perry, sixteen years after his diagnosis of prostate cancer. I am blessed to have him with me, as I continue to learn from his quiet strength, healthy work ethic, and commitment to friends and family. His presence is Living Proof that with awareness, research, and knowledge, we can and will LICK CANCER.

I will ride for my blessings. My beautiful bride, Regina, in the second photo, and my children Daria, Harrison, and Sophia in the third photo. Each of us has been affected by the cancer diagnosis of a parent, grandparent, teacher, principal, co-worker, cousin, aunt, classmate, friend, or parent of a friend. Many of those people are with us today, either as survivors or ongoing in their fight, including my mother-in-law Suzanne Lenhart, my aunt Valerie Lee, our wonderful friends Erin O'Connor, Adam Dec, Joann Klein, Nancy Seeley, Joel Cohn, JJ Nance, Sari Solden, Jean Morgan, Haley Fischman, Mark Ritzema, and our incredibly brave Team Perry Pedal Partner, Reina (pictured). Others left us far too soon, but serve as a memory of how important this battle is for each of us, including Brook Alan Collins, Amy Mossholder, Jan Miller, Kenneth Curtin, Rob Hecksel, Jean Nance, Phyllis Pietka, and Nolan Scott Drain.

In June of 2017, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I was 47 years old at the time of my diagnosis. Because I have a family history (my father was diagnosed in 2005) and underwent accelerated screening, it was caught early. I had surgery in October of that same year, and am currently cancer-free as I train for the 2021 PMC. While I have no desire to go through this again, I would say that for me, being the patient was the easy part. I was told exactly what to do and when to do it, and I thrive on planning and structure. The most difficult part was watching what this did to my wife, as she worked tirelessly to support me and our kids, communicate with all of our family and friends, keep our household and her business afloat, all while working through her own emotions, concerns, and fears. As I watched her deftly navigate this minefield, I was given a glimpse of what this must have been like for my mother 16 years ago as she supported my father, and what it must be like for all of the spouses, partners, children, and parents whose lives are uprooted by the loss of control that accompanies the illness of a family member. For that reason, I dedicate this ride to my wife and my mother (pictured), and to all of the family caregivers who take every step of this ride with us.

Lastly, I ride for people I have yet to meet who have been or will be affected by cancer. My family and I have attended nine Family Finishes, driving on Route 6 toward P-town alongside countless riders, volunteers, Pedal Partners, supporters, tribute signs, cowbells, drummers, cheers, and tears. This will be my sixth PMC, again riding for Team Perry. Being in that space on Pan Mass weekend makes it readily apparent how much good this does, and how many lives outside of our own circles will be positively impacted by this effort.

Thank you for stopping here and taking the time to read my motivation. Please consider supporting this effort. Together, we will LICK CANCER!

Steve Carey

Team Perry