Why I ride? The best answer, for me, has to do with what we can and cannot control in our lives. There are many things we can control, like how well we take care of ourselves and others. Unfortunately, despite our best self care, our health is sometimes one thing that we can’t control. This is particularly true of childhood cancers. When Tyler was diagnosed, we realized that there was so much we just couldn’t control. It was unnerving. We focused on providing Tyler with love and care, and we had faith in his medical team. We were fortunate to have THE best pediatric cancer hospital in the world here in our backyard. Therefore, our son, and our family, benefitted greatly.
After 7 years in remission, we certainly hope that Tyler will never require these services again and that is likely to be the case. But truthfully, there is always that fear that something could change, and Tyler will be back at Dana Farber. I ride because riding is something I can control. I can control how hard I train and how much I fundraise. I can play a small role in the single largest fundraising event in the world. I can contribute to the Pediatric Oncology Fund to advance research and treatment options for kids, like Tyler, and others around the world that will benefit from this model institution. That's why I ride.
For those visiting my page for the first time, my son Tyler (16) was diagnosed with a rare form of Hodgkins Lymphoma on February 7, 2017. Tyler was successfully treated at Dana Farber Cancer Institute and continues to do very well 6 years later. We formed Team Tyler in 2017 and have raised over $300,000 for the The Pediatric Oncology Fund at Dana-Farber where we hope to have a greater impact on the lives of other children like Tyler.
The Pan Mass Challenge is a two-day, 191 mile, bike-a-thon spanning Sturbridge to Provincetown. It is consistently the single largest athletic fundraising event in the US. With over 6,000 riders, the PMC has raised over $831 million since it’s inception in 1980. Due to the generosity of many sponsors and volunteers, 100% of these rider-raised dollars go directly to support adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
We greatly appreciate you supporting us, supporting Tyler and supporting Dana-Farber!
