After four years of riding Colleen and I decided this year we would be two of the more than 3,500 volunteers supporting the 6,000 PMC riders. We'll be working at rest stops on both Saturday and Sunday filling water bottles, making PB&Js, and thanking the riders for riding all of those miles to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure for cancer.

My Connections To Cancer (we all have them):

Last year, two days after we rode the PMC, Colleen retired from Boston Childrens Hospital. For 38 years she was an oncology nurse at the hospital and over those years I have been blessed with getting to know so many amazing nurses, doctors, patients, and families.

Our daughter Kate works at the Dana-Faber Jimmy Fund Clinic as a Child Life Specialist, helping kids with their cancer treatments. After two years of meeting with doctors, nurses, DFCI leadership, infection control, and many more commitees Kate received approval and funding for their first facility dog. Here is where you can meet Opry: instagram.com/tailsofdanafarber/

My brother Nick, a life-long non-smoker, died of lung cancer 11 years ago. He was a medic in Veitnam which I feel had something to do with his cancer.

Three years ago, right before the PMC, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In January 2023 I had surgery to remove my prostate along with 8 weeks of radiation treatment and hormone therapy.

Colleen and I are supporting the PMC this year by volunteering and donating to all of our fireinds who will be riding. The PMC is the Dana-Farber’s largest single contributor accounting for more than 62 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. Last year’s fundraising campaign brought the PMC’s total contributions in the fight against cancer since 1980 to cross a monumental $1 billion cumulative fundraising milestone! 100 percent of every dollar you donate goes directly to support lifesaving cancer research and care.

Thanks for your support!

Steve.