August 5, 2024

It may come across as a bit of hyperbole, but the past few days of the Pan Mass Challenge have been, as they have for many years, the best weekend of the year. This wonderful combination of emotion (Valvano talked about laughing, crying and thinking), physical (regardless of the weather and miles, it is about perseverance and preparation and performance) and collective (spending time with special people) keeps bringing me back to it year after year. There is joy, hope and reflection that is difficult to explain, but you all know what I mean. 

So we laughed and cried, remembered and challenged, thought and appreciated all weekend. You and your loved ones were in my thoughts.  I wish that you all could be part of this and in many ways you were. I have been so fortunate to be able to do this for 37 years and now look forward to next year. 

My PMC is not over yet. My goal is about 70% complete as I hope to be in the top 10% fundraisers of all riders. It is a tall task, but one that can be achieved. The donations have ranged from $10 to $1000 this year. Every bit counts towards my fundraising goal. This year, the PMC went over the $1 billion mark in its 45 years and hopes to raise $75 million this year. The lives saved and impacted by the research and care have been remarkable.

For those who have donated, thank you for your generosity and kindness and, if you haven't, I ask that you consider contributing what you can, regardless of the amount. I will be collecting money until October 1, so there is still plenty of time. I will check in later this month again and let you know the progress. As always, if you would prefer to not be contacted, please let me know. You may make your contribution on www.pmc.org/SW0001. 

Peace.

July, 2024

Hello friends,

Again, I come to you in hope that you will support my pledge to raise money for the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Pan Massachusetts Challenge.

My PMC dashboard is at 37 consecutive years and you have been there to raise over $275,000. I am so impressed by your generosity to this important cause. As always, I look forward to friends and riders on the road; the volunteers at the start, the rest stops and at the finish, and the families, patients and survivors holding signs and cheering. It is an incredibly moving weekend. And this year, the Pan Mass Challenge will pass the One Billion Dollar mark this year, which is astonishing.

This is the glimpse into the weekend and ride. It is what everyone goes through. Everyone has their story - those for whom they are riding and the cause that they believe in. There is physical and emotional endurance that fills the training and two days of cycling. We measure ourselves on miles and numbers of rides, money raised and, most importantly, those that we think about during our time on the bike - those that are going through cancer treatments, those that have finished their treatments and those that have been lost to cancer. There’s teamwork and laughter, and tears and suffering that go along with the twisty ups and downs over the two days. We test what we are capable of doing and we raise money for research. Since Michael Johnson and I started riding the PMC in 1988 (and John Matson in 1991), there have been so many successes made with the money raised, but there is still so much more to be done.

For those of you who don’t know, the Pan Mass Challenge is an incredible organization. Founded in 1980, the PMC is an annual bike-a-thon that today raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. This year’s goal is $75 million. Over the last 45 years, the PMC has donated 100% of every rider-raised dollar for cancer research and treatment (that’s over $900 million).

I benefited from your support and the monies raised for cancer treatment and research when, 34 years ago, I received my cancer diagnosis, which was followed by surgeries and treatment. All the while, you were there with me as I battled through what so many have done. I was so fortunate that the research and treatment was available. The PMC has been a constant in my life since 1988 and is the highlight of my summer.

Please consider donating to my PMC page - https://donate.pmc.org/SW0001 or sending me a check to 54 Old Plain Street Marshfield, MA 02050. I appreciate your support.

On behalf of all of the people and families affected by cancer, I thank you for your help.

Best wishes, good health and thanks,

Steve