2025 - Year 17 Sturbridge to P-Town!
As I head into my 17th year of riding, it's amazing to reflect on my PMC journey over the years. Last year was a huge milestone as my lifetime fundraising hit $100,000! I could not have reached that goal without the generosity and support of friends, family, and sponsors who join me in the fight against cancer with their donations each year. The PMC has announced that this will be the last year we start in Sturbridge, so I look forward to cherishing the routines we've established there (ice cream spots, opening ceremonies, etc.) and look forward to new experiences when we move to a Worcester start next year. I have so much to be thankful for and so many reasons to ride. Never Ever Give Up!
2024 - Year 16 & One in a Billion!
I'm so excited to share that I have signed up for my 16th PMC! As always, PMC riders are committed to riding and raising money to support Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and this year, our collective fundraising efforts are set to hit ONE BILLION DOLLARS! More to come soon, but as always, I remain honored and humbled to pedal my part in this incredible cause. Never Ever Give Up!
2023: Year 15, Sturbridge to P-Town, and Shanon rides again!
It feels like just yesterday that I signed up for my first PMC - a girl who'd never ridden (and didn't own) a road bike with a desire to make a difference. And now here I am after 14 years as a PMC rider, two bikes, countless miles, and over $80,000 raised preparing to ride in #15. To say things have changed in 15 years is an understatement - Jon and AJ have grown from knee-high cheerers to young men who can now help me carry my gear when the ride is over. Over these years, the list of those I ride in honor or memory of has grown. The names of three students who fought valiantly and inspire many with their legacy of kindness, hope, and positivity are at the top of my list, as are friends, family members, and loved ones. After all these years, our mission is still as critical as ever.
Last year I joined the Dana Farber FLAMES, an incredible group of doctors, nurses, patients, and friends. The funds we raise go directly to research completed by doctors who are on our team - and last year incredible break throughs were funded thanks to, part, to the team! This new group of friends pulled each other along in what was, arguably, the toughest day one ride yet, with high heat and humidity - temps on the pavement were well over 100 and it was a challenge for many. But we did it!
I'm so excited to have my partner in climb, Shanon, back on the bike this year! Our PMC history goes back to my first ride, but our friendship extends well before - and beyond - each ride. I know we will be there for each other when the hills are steep and the miles long. x0
2022 - Year 14 & back to Sturbridge!
I am beyond excited, and not a small bit nervous, to head back to the full route from Sturbridge to Provincetown this year. Not only will the ride be more grueling, but the commitment to this route is substantially more of a financial commitment than the one day rides from Wellesely. I am counting on my training - which has already started on the trainer in the basement - and on the generosity and support of friends and family, to help me reach my goal. The PMC motto of COMMIT - you'll figure it out! seems to ring truer each year, but one thing I've never had to figure out is my reason for riding. Since first signing up for this amazing event (before I owned or had sat on a road bike), my heart has known the why. I ride for those who can't - those who have valiantly fought, courageously battled, and taught us life-lessons of positivity and fearlessness. I ride for those whose names you entrust to me, who are close to your hearts. I ride for survivors, fighters, and for the future - a future where we may no longer live in fear of this insidious disease. I ride because I believe that each of us truly can make a difference in the world, and I am determined to make my small corner a better place. Thank you for joining in the fight - as Anne Frank said, how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Never Ever Give Up! <3
SO excited to be heading back to Sturbridge this year! More to follow - NEGU! <3
2021 - 13th PMC ahead!
After reimagining my PMC ride last year in the face of COVID-19, I am ready to ride in 2021. This year, I have committed to a 100 mile (aka century) one-day ride on Sunday, August 8th. I am grateful for all of the hard work and dedication PMC staff put into making this year's ride doable. Last year, though the official ride was sidelined by pandemic realities, each cyclist found a way to make his or her ride meaningful. I was honored to partner with the local cable TV network, HCTV, who filmed my ride and compiled a segment to highlight why I ride and how being part of the PMC makes a difference. This provided a unique opportunity for me to show my students the power of pushing yourself and putting yourself out into the world to make a difference.Though I rode those miles solo, I know I was not alone - as always, the generosity of my sponsors provide the impact in the fight against cancer.
There is much to be said for the power of a group, though, and I look forward to riding with my fellow PMC cyclists this year. I truly believe that each of us can make a difference in the world, and I committed to Never Ever Give Up! (NEGU)
With love & in hope, Sarah
2020 - 12th PMC, here I come!
I just committed to riding in my 12th PMC! Like last year, I will be doing the 50 mile Wellesley to Wellesley loop, although I hope to get back to Sturbridge to P-Town the following year. It has been important to listen to my knees and body recognize that they needed a break, and the logistics of long ride training with two busy teens and other commitments seems daunting again this year. That said, the Wellesley loop was an amazing experience last year, from riding through Foxboro to meeting up with my cousin, Carrie, who was volunteering, along the way. The PMC spirit and tenacity is present for every mile of every loop. I am proud and honored to once again be a part of this incredible journey. Never Ever Give Up! Thank you for joining me in the fight against cancer! <3
2019 - Last Minute Sign-up & feeling great!
So, I wasn't going to ride this year....not because I didn't want to, but because the logistics just seemed too overwhelming. And I thought I would be OK with it...but I haven't been. Every PMC post, photo, and email reminded me of the commitment I hadn't made. And then there are the stories and names....students, co-workers, family, friends...more and more people I know and love are finding themselves battling cancer. I had to do something, and the email that came on 7/15 titled Last day to register to Ride was the catalyst that got this year's ride going. Here are the facts:
1. Until last night, I had not trained at all. An hour on the trainer & getting the road bike down, undecorated from last year's ride, and making sure it is ready to hit the road today is the first step.
2. I have not fundraised...yet.
3. This year I will ride a 50 mile loop from Wellesley to Wellesley. Not the 192 miles I'm used to, but doable with this last minute decision.
4. 100% of the funds I raise will directly benefit Dana Farber & the critical work that they do.
It's crazy how at peace I feel now that I've signed up. Am I ready to go? No....but I will be! As always, thank you for the amazing support you show each year in believing in me and sponsoring my ride. I couldn't do it without you! NEGU! <3
2018 ~ Year TEN!
It is hard to believe that this year marks my 10th PMC. Each year, I am humbled to ride for your loved ones, family, and friends, who fight or have fought the insidious disease we know as cancer. This year, in addition to all those I hold in my heart & carry on my handlebars as I ride, I add several more names to my list. Each person I ride for, whether by name or unknown to me but loved by others, carries me through. Thinking of their courageous battle each day keeps me pedaling and allows me to focus on the true intent of the ride. This year, I will ride for another student, a third grader named Yuri, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this year. After emergency brain surgery months ago, she currently remains in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy and treatments. While every story hits close to home, there's something about childhood cancer that truly strikes the heart. So I ride. I ride for Yuri, for Alanna, for the names you find at the bottom of my posts & on my handlebars this weekend. I ride with hope and renewed determination that what we do matters. That we can, and do, make a difference. I ride because we Never Ever Give Up (NEGU). Together, we fight and together we make a difference. Thank you. <3
January, 2018I have just clicked submit on my registration to ride in my 10th Pan Mass Challenge. I can't imagine what my life would be like without the PMC as part of it. It has become ingrained in my very core, a part of who I am and who I want to be. I look forward to every step of the journey this year, from training to meeting new people as I fundraise and ride. NEGU <3
2017 ~ 9th PMC...every mile matters!
My resolve to ride and to do my part to fight cancer has never been stronger. Each new year brings new reasons to ride, and each new year renews my hope and determination to help make a difference. I am excited, anxious, and humbled, once again, to call myself a PMC rider, and I look forward to the journey to the first week in August when we ride. Thank you for joining me in the fight!
The story of 2016: Not the end I wanted...
I like to think of last year's ride as a reminder of the arduous, unpredictable journey that cancer brings. Here is a recap in a nutshell: Saturday started out great, and I felt good as I pedaled through the hills of western Massachusetts. I zipped through the first water stop, quickly filling my water bottles and grabbing a bite to eat. Things felt great at the second stop, too, and my new bike and I were cruising along. Somewhere between the second and third stops, things just unexplainably got tough. My legs felt sluggish, my head pounded, and I had to force myself to drink (which made me nauseous). At lunch, I made sure to hydrate, eat something salty, and cool down, and I figured I'd power through....it's hard to think about yourself when you're riding for cancer survivors and those who have lost the fight, and I told myself to suck it up.
Despite feeling this way, the ride was, as always, amazing. I crossed paths with old friends and made some new. It may have been evident that I was struggling, because one guy stuck with me for a while, slowing his pace to encourage me along. Again, just one of the amazing things of the PMC...people lifting each other up along the way.
Riding into the Pedal Partner stop at Lakeview is always emotional, especially as it reminds me of my own partner, Alanna, who I like to think is cheering me on from above. I knew I was off, so I made my way to the medical tent. I was too hot, not cooling down, nauseous, and blah. In their eyes, I needed to get in a van and ride to Mass Maritime...in my eyes, that was not going to happen (I might be a bit stubborn, but again, we're riding for cancer patients...you just don't quit). I spent at least an hour at this stop, being tended to by medical volunteers who cooled me off, massaged tired legs, and told me to be careful on the rest of the ride. And I did...I checked in at medical at the last water stop and pushed to the finish at MMA.
I guess I really knew something was off when a cold shower left me feeling just as hot and my headache wouldn't quit. I bit the bullet & walked into the medical tent, telling them I just didn't feel right. One look at me & they brought me to the volunteer EMT's from Bourne...these guys literally give up their day just in case a cyclist needs attention after the ride. I must have been their first patient, because they jumped right up, eager to get an IV in me. Both the doctor and EMT's thought I was dehydrated, although I kept telling them it couldn't be as I had chugged all the water and electrolyte I could. With a liter of fluids in me, they sent me off to eat (which I really couldn't do), and then I made my way to my massage (usually one of the highlights of MMA evening). My volunteer massage therapist (who happens to be a friend) said I felt clammy, and as I sat there, I knew I was going to lose the little bit of baked potato I'd eaten.
I was whisked, by gator, back to the EMT's who asked what I was doing Sunday. Riding, I said. We've already called an ambulance, was their reply. I couldn't really argue, because they were already strapping me onto a gurney. A short siren-filled ride later (all I could think was, I don't want to be one of Billy Starr's stats in his post-PMC email), I was at the hospital. Blood tests indicated that I had a severe case of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo, for short), which thankfully had been caught before any damage to my kidneys took place). The cure? IV flush for 3 days....guess who wasn't riding on Sunday. :(
The good news is that I'm free and clear and all OK'd to ride. The doctors think it was a fluke...nothing I did or didn't do to bring it on, and extremely unlikely to ever happen to me again. This said, I'm not taking any chances this year...I've already begun training & should probably buy stock in Poland Spring and Gatorade with the amound I have, and will, consume right through PMC. I am, and will be, ready to ride. After all, it's about helping others. :)
And so, I ask for your help. Your donations lend meaning to the miles I will pedal in August. They allow the life saving work of the doctors and medical teams at Dana Farber to continue. They bring hope to those fighting and comfort to those who have lost a loved one. 100% of rider raised funds goes directly to the cause. My goal this year is to raise $7,800 dollars, but I'll be happy to reach the minimum of $4,800. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. Thank you for joining me in the fight against cancer.
In Hope,
Sarah
In hope, love, and peace,
Sarah
2016 ~ 8th PMC! Together We Ride!
As I prepare to leave for Sturbridge tomorrow for my 8th PMC journey, I am humbled to look back and reflect on the years. In a world where fear, uncertainty, and discord seem to be the norm, the PMC reminds us that we can do amazing things when we unite for good. This is so much more than a bike ride...it is a demonstration of humanity, of hope, of perseverance, and of grit. The PMC embodies everything that is good and right and noble in the human race, and I am proud to pedal my small part of it. In hope & in peace...Never Ever Give Up!
Registered & ready to roll!
SO excited to be thinking about my 8th ride! Looking forward to hopefully bringing my lifetime fundraising to $50,000 for Dana Farber/The Jimmy Fund...
2015 ~ 7th PMC! Reasons I Ride...
It's hard to believe that this year's PMC is just a month away! As the ride draws closer, preparation, both physical and mental, increases. I start to sneak in more rides, more miles, and more hills. I turn my thoughts, again, to what keeps me riding each year...each mile...each hill. Most of you know by now that I ride for my former student, Alanna, who lost her battle with cancer just over a year ago. I ride, too, for family members, friends, and the names you have given me...names of survivors or courageous battlers...people who you have entrusted me to remember and pray for as I train & ride. It is my privilege to carry their names with me again this year. Thank you for joining me in the fight against cancer. It is truly my belief that we can rid the world of this disease, and I truly believe that someday our kids or grandkids won't have to worry about it.
I ride because I can. I ride full of love, full of hope, and grateful for each day we have to give it our all.
Below you can read my entries from each year's ride. You will also find a list of names that I attach to my handle bars each year. The stories of these courageous people inspire me and help me to carry on when the miles are long & the hills are steep.
In hope,
Sarah
2014 ~ 6th PMC! Why I KEEP riding...
The PMC changes lives....lives of those who ride and lives of those we ride for. As I head into my 6th year of training and fundraising, it is clear to me that I, too, have changed. I am no longer just someone on a bike. I am a PMC rider. The PMC is part of who I am, not just something I do each August. I spend all year praying for those I ride for, fundraising, and training. The two days I actually pedal the first weekend of August are simply the icing on the cake...very, very, challenging icing. :)
This year's ride has special meaning as I ride in memory of Alanna, an incredible Brave Little Soul who inspired everyone she met. Her courage and joy made the world a better place.
But my ride means nothing without your help. It is the generosity of sponsors that enables the miles to make a difference. It is the stories of loved ones you entrust to me that keep me going and inspire me. Thank you for joining me in this fight! I am honored to ride...
2013 ~ Riding for Alanna & so many others...
Hope springs eternal. Hope. Belief. Faith. I ride because I believe that the miles we pedal make a difference. I ride because I can when so many others can't. Riding is different from cycling. Riding encompasses so much more....it embodies the unity of many toward a common purpose and the determination that we will succeed. It embodies faith....prayer for those we ride for and prayer to keep us going over the long, sometimes difficult, miles. Riding brings hope. It comforts. It inspires. It encourages. It truly does make a difference in the lives of riders, pedal partners, families, and friends. It also makes a difference in the fight against cancer.
This year I have the privilege of riding for my former student, Alanna, again. As she fights cancer for the third time in her life, I am honored to be her Pedal Partner for this year's ride.
2012 ~ Who said it'd be easy?
This is the first year I really questioned my ability to complete the ride. Scorching heat. Blazing sun. High humidity. Saturday's ride was tough from the start, and only got tougher as my knee began to experience excrutiating pain about 25 miles in. About 90 miles into the ride that day, it was suggested that I stop riding & take a van to the finish. I would have liked to, and I think I would have had some company, too. Pain & dehydration were taking their toll. And then I looked at that list on my handlebars....the many names of survivors and fighters....and just like that, my struggles paled in comparison. I made it to MMA disheartened and shaken, but I made it.
Sunday met us with sticky air and wet roads which only got wetter after a soaking downpour in Barnstable. My knee pain just wouldn't quit, either, and I was pretty sure something wasn't right in there. But again, I muscled through....how does one stop when riding in honor of so many who have fought a heck of a lot more than a little knee pain? I was happy for the rain....it hid my tears. But on I pedaled....until Wellfleet. My dear friends & I decided that what happend at the PMC stays at the PMC, but I'm OK to admit now that I couldn't quite get it done this year. After collapsing on the ground at the Wellfleet water stop, my friend stepped in & said enough is enough. She had my bike put on a van & led my sobbing self over to the medical tent where several angels in the guise of nurses tended to my physical and emotional pains. I had a wonderful volunteer entertain me over 15 miles of windy dunes to a meeting point where I was able to meet my friends and pedal my way slowly, with them, to the finish. And so, I did it...well, almost all of it....
I am now 3 weeks post-op after my 5th knee surgery & looking forward to signing up for my 5th ride soon. I am extremely grateful for my friends and family who truly carried me through this year. I am humbled to ride for so many inspiring people, and I am more determined than ever to make those miles count in the fight against cancer. God bless! xox
2012 Ride ~ It's official! I'm riding again!
It is a privilege and honor to be able to ride in the PMC again this year! Last year's ride blew me away...from the inspiration given me by my pedal partner, Alanna, to the humbling task of pedaling alone amidst the sea of riders, to my family and friends encouraging me from the moment I signed up. I honestly cannot imagine not riding, especially as it seems that cancer touches more and more of the people near and dear to me each year. And so, we ride....we hope....we pray....we press on....ever forward, even if slowly. Thank you for being a part of my experience and my ride, and thank you to all who have joined me in the fight by sponsoring me. It is your generosity that truly ensures that the miles I pedal make a difference. Peace.
2011 Ride....Can't Wait!
All signed up for my third Pan Mass Challenge! I am looking forward to another year of training and riding, knowing that each mile is ridden with the hope that a cure is in sight. As I told my class last week when we were grappling with the death of our school secretary, Cancer terrifies me, but I choose to NOT live my life in fear. Instead, I hop on a bike in the hope that my efforts will lead us closer to a day free from this disease. We can't control what happens to ourselves or our loved ones, but we can choose to make a difference! This is why I ride....
Whether I want the reminders or not, it seems that they keep coming my way. With a heavy heart, but with hope for the future, I add more names to my list of Why I Ride. The first is my student this year, who at 10 years old is fighting her second fight with cancer, the first having been won when she was just a toddler. This time the disease returned in her femur, causing it to snap. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, yet bravely attends school as much as she can. Her cheerful presence is a constant reminder as to why I will my legs to pedal each August. The second name I add today is the mother of one of my students who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Her fight is just beginning, fueled by a fierce determination to beat this for herself and for her kids. While I can do my best each day to nurture and care for her son while she recovers, I also resolve to keep riding until a cure is found! Another name added recently is the father of a friend who was just diagnosed with prostate cancer.
My prayers & thoughts are with these courageous, inspiring people. They truly are the reason we all ride!
2010 Ride...Over & Done!
It's hard to believe that my second PMC is now a memory...even my muscles have recovered at this point! It was again a humbling experience to ride in this incredible event, and I come away just as in awe as I was last year. Once again, the comraderie, team work, and dedication of thousands of riders, volunteers, and spectators/cheerers was amazing. The PMC truly embodies the best of humanity...people putting themselves out there, sacrificing time and energy, for the good of others. It is worth every second of training, fundraising, and planning to be a part of it...I'm already looking forward to next year!
Knowing what was ahead of me helped this year, and the weather cooperated with cool, dry temperatures & sunny skies. Other than a blow-you-backwards headwind in the P-town dunes, it was perfect! I was happy to again ride with my friends, Shanon and Kim...we won the unofficial title of best helmets for the second year in a row...who can resist a tiara? Thanks to the best cheering family I could wish for....Mike, Jon, and Anthony at several stops along the way, and the Orleans gang along Rock Harbor Road. Training, riding, and recovering are all made easier with the strong support of my family and friends....thanks to you all!
I am often asked if there is anyone I am riding for....the answer is not really....I'm riding for everyone. I ride for the future, for Jonathan and Anthony, that they won't have to worry about themselves or their own kids. I ride for my family, so many of whom have been touched by cancer, many of whom have fought bravely or watched those they love give it their all. I ride for my students in the hope that my example will inspire them to put themselves out there for the good of others. Why do I ride? Because I can!
Listed here are some of the people who have inspired me to ride. Some fought and won, others fought with all they had and are now remembered in our hearts:
Alanna, Brave Little Soul +
Yuri ~ fighting
Larry Feller ~ fighting
John C. ~ fighting
Tara Veit ~ fighting
Kristin Fedorchak~ fighting
Deirdre ~ fighting
Barbara Muncey +
Pauline Chaves ~ survivor
Anthony Chaves ~ survivor +
Aunt Dottie +
Deb's Dad +
Lynne ~ survivor
Pam +
Robin ~ survivor
Sarah ~ survivor
Marjorie ~ survivor
Cynthia Lefter ~ survivor
Ralph Lefter ~ survivor
Helena Silva ~ survivor
Uncle Earl +
Uncle Gerry +
Uncle Roland +
Lucille Cross +
Theodora Coitrone ~ survivor
Sari Sarcia +
Aunt Cindy ~ survivor
Col. Steve +
Jennie Sue +
Kristie's mom +
Patti ~ survivor/fighting
Helen Stanford +
Allie ~ fighting
Robert Dyble +
Ron Price ~ fighting
Christine's mom +
Randall's mom +
Bob Edmonson ~ fighting
Mary Landry +
Nancy Peet +
Clare +
Dot Sisti +
Ralph +
Bill +
Regina Johnson +
Brian Durbin
Dave Effgen
Jenna Nelson ~ fighting
Tyler Cragg +
Rebecca Saiz +
Connor ~ fighting
Sherri Minkle ~ fighting
Joe Zaffino +
Dawn Schumaker ~ survivor
Carol Lyle ~ survivor
Carol Stewart ~ fighting
Steve Pridemore ~ fighting
Jack Z. ~ fighting
Kristen Hoar ~ fighting
Dottie L. ~ fighting
Judy Norris ~ fighting
Mickey's sister +
Please let me know if there is someone I can remember for you as I train and ride. I will add their name to the list that I carry with me during the PMC weekend, keeping them often in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks!
Sarah
2025 - Year 17 Sturbridge to P-Town!
As I head into my 17th year of riding, it's amazing to reflect on my PMC journey over the years. Last year was a huge milestone as my lifetime fundraising hit $100,000! I could not have reached that goal without the generosity and support of friends, family, and sponsors who join me in the fight against cancer with their donations each year. The PMC has announced that this will be the last year we start in Sturbridge, so I look forward to cherishing the routines we've established there (ice cream spots, opening ceremonies, etc.) and look forward to new experiences when we move to a Worcester start next year. I have so much to be thankful for and so many reasons to ride. Never Ever Give Up!
2024 - Year 16 & One in a Billion!
I'm so excited to share that I have signed up for my 16th PMC! As always, PMC riders are committed to riding and raising money to support Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and this year, our collective fundraising efforts are set to hit ONE BILLION DOLLARS! More to come soon, but as always, I remain honored and humbled to pedal my part in this incredible cause. Never Ever Give Up!
2023: Year 15, Sturbridge to P-Town, and Shanon rides again!
It feels like just yesterday that I signed up for my first PMC - a girl who'd never ridden (and didn't own) a road bike with a desire to make a difference. And now here I am after 14 years as a PMC rider, two bikes, countless miles, and over $80,000 raised preparing to ride in #15. To say things have changed in 15 years is an understatement - Jon and AJ have grown from knee-high cheerers to young men who can now help me carry my gear when the ride is over. Over these years, the list of those I ride in honor or memory of has grown. The names of three students who fought valiantly and inspire many with their legacy of kindness, hope, and positivity are at the top of my list, as are friends, family members, and loved ones. After all these years, our mission is still as critical as ever.
Last year I joined the Dana Farber FLAMES, an incredible group of doctors, nurses, patients, and friends. The funds we raise go directly to research completed by doctors who are on our team - and last year incredible break throughs were funded thanks to, part, to the team! This new group of friends pulled each other along in what was, arguably, the toughest day one ride yet, with high heat and humidity - temps on the pavement were well over 100 and it was a challenge for many. But we did it!
I'm so excited to have my partner in climb, Shanon, back on the bike this year! Our PMC history goes back to my first ride, but our friendship extends well before - and beyond - each ride. I know we will be there for each other when the hills are steep and the miles long. x0
2022 - Year 14 & back to Sturbridge!
I am beyond excited, and not a small bit nervous, to head back to the full route from Sturbridge to Provincetown this year. Not only will the ride be more grueling, but the commitment to this route is substantially more of a financial commitment than the one day rides from Wellesely. I am counting on my training - which has already started on the trainer in the basement - and on the generosity and support of friends and family, to help me reach my goal. The PMC motto of COMMIT - you'll figure it out! seems to ring truer each year, but one thing I've never had to figure out is my reason for riding. Since first signing up for this amazing event (before I owned or had sat on a road bike), my heart has known the why. I ride for those who can't - those who have valiantly fought, courageously battled, and taught us life-lessons of positivity and fearlessness. I ride for those whose names you entrust to me, who are close to your hearts. I ride for survivors, fighters, and for the future - a future where we may no longer live in fear of this insidious disease. I ride because I believe that each of us truly can make a difference in the world, and I am determined to make my small corner a better place. Thank you for joining in the fight - as Anne Frank said, how wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Never Ever Give Up! <3
SO excited to be heading back to Sturbridge this year! More to follow - NEGU! <3
2021 - 13th PMC ahead!
After reimagining my PMC ride last year in the face of COVID-19, I am ready to ride in 2021. This year, I have committed to a 100 mile (aka century) one-day ride on Sunday, August 8th. I am grateful for all of the hard work and dedication PMC staff put into making this year's ride doable. Last year, though the official ride was sidelined by pandemic realities, each cyclist found a way to make his or her ride meaningful. I was honored to partner with the local cable TV network, HCTV, who filmed my ride and compiled a segment to highlight why I ride and how being part of the PMC makes a difference. This provided a unique opportunity for me to show my students the power of pushing yourself and putting yourself out into the world to make a difference.Though I rode those miles solo, I know I was not alone - as always, the generosity of my sponsors provide the impact in the fight against cancer.
There is much to be said for the power of a group, though, and I look forward to riding with my fellow PMC cyclists this year. I truly believe that each of us can make a difference in the world, and I committed to Never Ever Give Up! (NEGU)
With love & in hope, Sarah
2020 - 12th PMC, here I come!
I just committed to riding in my 12th PMC! Like last year, I will be doing the 50 mile Wellesley to Wellesley loop, although I hope to get back to Sturbridge to P-Town the following year. It has been important to listen to my knees and body recognize that they needed a break, and the logistics of long ride training with two busy teens and other commitments seems daunting again this year. That said, the Wellesley loop was an amazing experience last year, from riding through Foxboro to meeting up with my cousin, Carrie, who was volunteering, along the way. The PMC spirit and tenacity is present for every mile of every loop. I am proud and honored to once again be a part of this incredible journey. Never Ever Give Up! Thank you for joining me in the fight against cancer! <3
2019 - Last Minute Sign-up & feeling great!
So, I wasn't going to ride this year....not because I didn't want to, but because the logistics just seemed too overwhelming. And I thought I would be OK with it...but I haven't been. Every PMC post, photo, and email reminded me of the commitment I hadn't made. And then there are the stories and names....students, co-workers, family, friends...more and more people I know and love are finding themselves battling cancer. I had to do something, and the email that came on 7/15 titled Last day to register to Ride was the catalyst that got this year's ride going. Here are the facts:
1. Until last night, I had not trained at all. An hour on the trainer & getting the road bike down, undecorated from last year's ride, and making sure it is ready to hit the road today is the first step.
2. I have not fundraised...yet.
3. This year I will ride a 50 mile loop from Wellesley to Wellesley. Not the 192 miles I'm used to, but doable with this last minute decision.
4. 100% of the funds I raise will directly benefit Dana Farber & the critical work that they do.
It's crazy how at peace I feel now that I've signed up. Am I ready to go? No....but I will be! As always, thank you for the amazing support you show each year in believing in me and sponsoring my ride. I couldn't do it without you! NEGU! <3
2018 ~ Year TEN!
It is hard to believe that this year marks my 10th PMC. Each year, I am humbled to ride for your loved ones, family, and friends, who fight or have fought the insidious disease we know as cancer. This year, in addition to all those I hold in my heart & carry on my handlebars as I ride, I add several more names to my list. Each person I ride for, whether by name or unknown to me but loved by others, carries me through. Thinking of their courageous battle each day keeps me pedaling and allows me to focus on the true intent of the ride. This year, I will ride for another student, a third grader named Yuri, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this year. After emergency brain surgery months ago, she currently remains in the hospital undergoing chemotherapy and treatments. While every story hits close to home, there's something about childhood cancer that truly strikes the heart. So I ride. I ride for Yuri, for Alanna, for the names you find at the bottom of my posts & on my handlebars this weekend. I ride with hope and renewed determination that what we do matters. That we can, and do, make a difference. I ride because we Never Ever Give Up (NEGU). Together, we fight and together we make a difference. Thank you. <3
January, 2018I have just clicked submit on my registration to ride in my 10th Pan Mass Challenge. I can't imagine what my life would be like without the PMC as part of it. It has become ingrained in my very core, a part of who I am and who I want to be. I look forward to every step of the journey this year, from training to meeting new people as I fundraise and ride. NEGU <3
2017 ~ 9th PMC...every mile matters!
My resolve to ride and to do my part to fight cancer has never been stronger. Each new year brings new reasons to ride, and each new year renews my hope and determination to help make a difference. I am excited, anxious, and humbled, once again, to call myself a PMC rider, and I look forward to the journey to the first week in August when we ride. Thank you for joining me in the fight!
The story of 2016: Not the end I wanted...
I like to think of last year's ride as a reminder of the arduous, unpredictable journey that cancer brings. Here is a recap in a nutshell: Saturday started out great, and I felt good as I pedaled through the hills of western Massachusetts. I zipped through the first water stop, quickly filling my water bottles and grabbing a bite to eat. Things felt great at the second stop, too, and my new bike and I were cruising along. Somewhere between the second and third stops, things just unexplainably got tough. My legs felt sluggish, my head pounded, and I had to force myself to drink (which made me nauseous). At lunch, I made sure to hydrate, eat something salty, and cool down, and I figured I'd power through....it's hard to think about yourself when you're riding for cancer survivors and those who have lost the fight, and I told myself to suck it up.
Despite feeling this way, the ride was, as always, amazing. I crossed paths with old friends and made some new. It may have been evident that I was struggling, because one guy stuck with me for a while, slowing his pace to encourage me along. Again, just one of the amazing things of the PMC...people lifting each other up along the way.
Riding into the Pedal Partner stop at Lakeview is always emotional, especially as it reminds me of my own partner, Alanna, who I like to think is cheering me on from above. I knew I was off, so I made my way to the medical tent. I was too hot, not cooling down, nauseous, and blah. In their eyes, I needed to get in a van and ride to Mass Maritime...in my eyes, that was not going to happen (I might be a bit stubborn, but again, we're riding for cancer patients...you just don't quit). I spent at least an hour at this stop, being tended to by medical volunteers who cooled me off, massaged tired legs, and told me to be careful on the rest of the ride. And I did...I checked in at medical at the last water stop and pushed to the finish at MMA.
I guess I really knew something was off when a cold shower left me feeling just as hot and my headache wouldn't quit. I bit the bullet & walked into the medical tent, telling them I just didn't feel right. One look at me & they brought me to the volunteer EMT's from Bourne...these guys literally give up their day just in case a cyclist needs attention after the ride. I must have been their first patient, because they jumped right up, eager to get an IV in me. Both the doctor and EMT's thought I was dehydrated, although I kept telling them it couldn't be as I had chugged all the water and electrolyte I could. With a liter of fluids in me, they sent me off to eat (which I really couldn't do), and then I made my way to my massage (usually one of the highlights of MMA evening). My volunteer massage therapist (who happens to be a friend) said I felt clammy, and as I sat there, I knew I was going to lose the little bit of baked potato I'd eaten.
I was whisked, by gator, back to the EMT's who asked what I was doing Sunday. Riding, I said. We've already called an ambulance, was their reply. I couldn't really argue, because they were already strapping me onto a gurney. A short siren-filled ride later (all I could think was, I don't want to be one of Billy Starr's stats in his post-PMC email), I was at the hospital. Blood tests indicated that I had a severe case of rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo, for short), which thankfully had been caught before any damage to my kidneys took place). The cure? IV flush for 3 days....guess who wasn't riding on Sunday. :(
The good news is that I'm free and clear and all OK'd to ride. The doctors think it was a fluke...nothing I did or didn't do to bring it on, and extremely unlikely to ever happen to me again. This said, I'm not taking any chances this year...I've already begun training & should probably buy stock in Poland Spring and Gatorade with the amound I have, and will, consume right through PMC. I am, and will be, ready to ride. After all, it's about helping others. :)
And so, I ask for your help. Your donations lend meaning to the miles I will pedal in August. They allow the life saving work of the doctors and medical teams at Dana Farber to continue. They bring hope to those fighting and comfort to those who have lost a loved one. 100% of rider raised funds goes directly to the cause. My goal this year is to raise $7,800 dollars, but I'll be happy to reach the minimum of $4,800. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated. Thank you for joining me in the fight against cancer.
In Hope,
Sarah
In hope, love, and peace,
Sarah
2016 ~ 8th PMC! Together We Ride!
As I prepare to leave for Sturbridge tomorrow for my 8th PMC journey, I am humbled to look back and reflect on the years. In a world where fear, uncertainty, and discord seem to be the norm, the PMC reminds us that we can do amazing things when we unite for good. This is so much more than a bike ride...it is a demonstration of humanity, of hope, of perseverance, and of grit. The PMC embodies everything that is good and right and noble in the human race, and I am proud to pedal my small part of it. In hope & in peace...Never Ever Give Up!
Registered & ready to roll!
SO excited to be thinking about my 8th ride! Looking forward to hopefully bringing my lifetime fundraising to $50,000 for Dana Farber/The Jimmy Fund...
2015 ~ 7th PMC! Reasons I Ride...
It's hard to believe that this year's PMC is just a month away! As the ride draws closer, preparation, both physical and mental, increases. I start to sneak in more rides, more miles, and more hills. I turn my thoughts, again, to what keeps me riding each year...each mile...each hill. Most of you know by now that I ride for my former student, Alanna, who lost her battle with cancer just over a year ago. I ride, too, for family members, friends, and the names you have given me...names of survivors or courageous battlers...people who you have entrusted me to remember and pray for as I train & ride. It is my privilege to carry their names with me again this year. Thank you for joining me in the fight against cancer. It is truly my belief that we can rid the world of this disease, and I truly believe that someday our kids or grandkids won't have to worry about it.
I ride because I can. I ride full of love, full of hope, and grateful for each day we have to give it our all.
Below you can read my entries from each year's ride. You will also find a list of names that I attach to my handle bars each year. The stories of these courageous people inspire me and help me to carry on when the miles are long & the hills are steep.
In hope,
Sarah
2014 ~ 6th PMC! Why I KEEP riding...
The PMC changes lives....lives of those who ride and lives of those we ride for. As I head into my 6th year of training and fundraising, it is clear to me that I, too, have changed. I am no longer just someone on a bike. I am a PMC rider. The PMC is part of who I am, not just something I do each August. I spend all year praying for those I ride for, fundraising, and training. The two days I actually pedal the first weekend of August are simply the icing on the cake...very, very, challenging icing. :)
This year's ride has special meaning as I ride in memory of Alanna, an incredible Brave Little Soul who inspired everyone she met. Her courage and joy made the world a better place.
But my ride means nothing without your help. It is the generosity of sponsors that enables the miles to make a difference. It is the stories of loved ones you entrust to me that keep me going and inspire me. Thank you for joining me in this fight! I am honored to ride...
2013 ~ Riding for Alanna & so many others...
Hope springs eternal. Hope. Belief. Faith. I ride because I believe that the miles we pedal make a difference. I ride because I can when so many others can't. Riding is different from cycling. Riding encompasses so much more....it embodies the unity of many toward a common purpose and the determination that we will succeed. It embodies faith....prayer for those we ride for and prayer to keep us going over the long, sometimes difficult, miles. Riding brings hope. It comforts. It inspires. It encourages. It truly does make a difference in the lives of riders, pedal partners, families, and friends. It also makes a difference in the fight against cancer.
This year I have the privilege of riding for my former student, Alanna, again. As she fights cancer for the third time in her life, I am honored to be her Pedal Partner for this year's ride.
2012 ~ Who said it'd be easy?
This is the first year I really questioned my ability to complete the ride. Scorching heat. Blazing sun. High humidity. Saturday's ride was tough from the start, and only got tougher as my knee began to experience excrutiating pain about 25 miles in. About 90 miles into the ride that day, it was suggested that I stop riding & take a van to the finish. I would have liked to, and I think I would have had some company, too. Pain & dehydration were taking their toll. And then I looked at that list on my handlebars....the many names of survivors and fighters....and just like that, my struggles paled in comparison. I made it to MMA disheartened and shaken, but I made it.
Sunday met us with sticky air and wet roads which only got wetter after a soaking downpour in Barnstable. My knee pain just wouldn't quit, either, and I was pretty sure something wasn't right in there. But again, I muscled through....how does one stop when riding in honor of so many who have fought a heck of a lot more than a little knee pain? I was happy for the rain....it hid my tears. But on I pedaled....until Wellfleet. My dear friends & I decided that what happend at the PMC stays at the PMC, but I'm OK to admit now that I couldn't quite get it done this year. After collapsing on the ground at the Wellfleet water stop, my friend stepped in & said enough is enough. She had my bike put on a van & led my sobbing self over to the medical tent where several angels in the guise of nurses tended to my physical and emotional pains. I had a wonderful volunteer entertain me over 15 miles of windy dunes to a meeting point where I was able to meet my friends and pedal my way slowly, with them, to the finish. And so, I did it...well, almost all of it....
I am now 3 weeks post-op after my 5th knee surgery & looking forward to signing up for my 5th ride soon. I am extremely grateful for my friends and family who truly carried me through this year. I am humbled to ride for so many inspiring people, and I am more determined than ever to make those miles count in the fight against cancer. God bless! xox
2012 Ride ~ It's official! I'm riding again!
It is a privilege and honor to be able to ride in the PMC again this year! Last year's ride blew me away...from the inspiration given me by my pedal partner, Alanna, to the humbling task of pedaling alone amidst the sea of riders, to my family and friends encouraging me from the moment I signed up. I honestly cannot imagine not riding, especially as it seems that cancer touches more and more of the people near and dear to me each year. And so, we ride....we hope....we pray....we press on....ever forward, even if slowly. Thank you for being a part of my experience and my ride, and thank you to all who have joined me in the fight by sponsoring me. It is your generosity that truly ensures that the miles I pedal make a difference. Peace.
2011 Ride....Can't Wait!
All signed up for my third Pan Mass Challenge! I am looking forward to another year of training and riding, knowing that each mile is ridden with the hope that a cure is in sight. As I told my class last week when we were grappling with the death of our school secretary, Cancer terrifies me, but I choose to NOT live my life in fear. Instead, I hop on a bike in the hope that my efforts will lead us closer to a day free from this disease. We can't control what happens to ourselves or our loved ones, but we can choose to make a difference! This is why I ride....
Whether I want the reminders or not, it seems that they keep coming my way. With a heavy heart, but with hope for the future, I add more names to my list of Why I Ride. The first is my student this year, who at 10 years old is fighting her second fight with cancer, the first having been won when she was just a toddler. This time the disease returned in her femur, causing it to snap. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy, yet bravely attends school as much as she can. Her cheerful presence is a constant reminder as to why I will my legs to pedal each August. The second name I add today is the mother of one of my students who was just diagnosed with breast cancer. Her fight is just beginning, fueled by a fierce determination to beat this for herself and for her kids. While I can do my best each day to nurture and care for her son while she recovers, I also resolve to keep riding until a cure is found! Another name added recently is the father of a friend who was just diagnosed with prostate cancer.
My prayers & thoughts are with these courageous, inspiring people. They truly are the reason we all ride!
2010 Ride...Over & Done!
It's hard to believe that my second PMC is now a memory...even my muscles have recovered at this point! It was again a humbling experience to ride in this incredible event, and I come away just as in awe as I was last year. Once again, the comraderie, team work, and dedication of thousands of riders, volunteers, and spectators/cheerers was amazing. The PMC truly embodies the best of humanity...people putting themselves out there, sacrificing time and energy, for the good of others. It is worth every second of training, fundraising, and planning to be a part of it...I'm already looking forward to next year!
Knowing what was ahead of me helped this year, and the weather cooperated with cool, dry temperatures & sunny skies. Other than a blow-you-backwards headwind in the P-town dunes, it was perfect! I was happy to again ride with my friends, Shanon and Kim...we won the unofficial title of best helmets for the second year in a row...who can resist a tiara? Thanks to the best cheering family I could wish for....Mike, Jon, and Anthony at several stops along the way, and the Orleans gang along Rock Harbor Road. Training, riding, and recovering are all made easier with the strong support of my family and friends....thanks to you all!
I am often asked if there is anyone I am riding for....the answer is not really....I'm riding for everyone. I ride for the future, for Jonathan and Anthony, that they won't have to worry about themselves or their own kids. I ride for my family, so many of whom have been touched by cancer, many of whom have fought bravely or watched those they love give it their all. I ride for my students in the hope that my example will inspire them to put themselves out there for the good of others. Why do I ride? Because I can!
Listed here are some of the people who have inspired me to ride. Some fought and won, others fought with all they had and are now remembered in our hearts:
Alanna, Brave Little Soul +
Yuri ~ fighting
Larry Feller ~ fighting
John C. ~ fighting
Tara Veit ~ fighting
Kristin Fedorchak~ fighting
Deirdre ~ fighting
Barbara Muncey +
Pauline Chaves ~ survivor
Anthony Chaves ~ survivor +
Aunt Dottie +
Deb's Dad +
Lynne ~ survivor
Pam +
Robin ~ survivor
Sarah ~ survivor
Marjorie ~ survivor
Cynthia Lefter ~ survivor
Ralph Lefter ~ survivor
Helena Silva ~ survivor
Uncle Earl +
Uncle Gerry +
Uncle Roland +
Lucille Cross +
Theodora Coitrone ~ survivor
Sari Sarcia +
Aunt Cindy ~ survivor
Col. Steve +
Jennie Sue +
Kristie's mom +
Patti ~ survivor/fighting
Helen Stanford +
Allie ~ fighting
Robert Dyble +
Ron Price ~ fighting
Christine's mom +
Randall's mom +
Bob Edmonson ~ fighting
Mary Landry +
Nancy Peet +
Clare +
Dot Sisti +
Ralph +
Bill +
Regina Johnson +
Brian Durbin
Dave Effgen
Jenna Nelson ~ fighting
Tyler Cragg +
Rebecca Saiz +
Connor ~ fighting
Sherri Minkle ~ fighting
Joe Zaffino +
Dawn Schumaker ~ survivor
Carol Lyle ~ survivor
Carol Stewart ~ fighting
Steve Pridemore ~ fighting
Jack Z. ~ fighting
Kristen Hoar ~ fighting
Dottie L. ~ fighting
Judy Norris ~ fighting
Mickey's sister +
Please let me know if there is someone I can remember for you as I train and ride. I will add their name to the list that I carry with me during the PMC weekend, keeping them often in my thoughts and prayers.
Thanks!
Sarah
I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list.
| 2025 | $2,590.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2024 | $10,010.47 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2023 | $10,059.35 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2022 | $10,129.87 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2021 | $3,280.00 | Wellesley Century |
| 2020 | $1,665.00 | Wellesley to Wellesley (50 mile Sunday) |
| 2019 | $2,685.00 | Wellesley to Wellesley (50 mile Sunday) |
| 2018 | $5,675.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2017 | $6,035.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2016 | $7,893.14 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2015 | $7,622.15 | Bourne to Provincetown Monument (1-Day, Sun) |
| 2014 | $7,590.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2013 | $5,265.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2012 | $6,661.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2011 | $6,601.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2010 | $4,457.93 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2009 | $4,501.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
