My niece, Alyson, is a beautiful, amazing 32-year-old woman who joined the Marines after high school. Having grown up on Cape Cod, she hadn’t seen much of the world. Enlisting in the Marines gave her an opportunity for education, travel, structure, and friendship with others who were equally committed to America and democracy. She married another soldier and had two beautiful children in between her deployments to Afghanistan and the Middle East. She was so proud of her service to this country. She is a fierce, strong, smart, dedicated soldier, although her battles are no longer on America’s battlefields.
Alyson was forced to leave the Marines a few years ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She divorced that year, too. Her world changed dramatically. She was faced with heart-wrenching decisions that no young mother or woman should ever face.
Alyson has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy and made the very difficult decision to go through multiple surgeries in an effort to fight the disease. Like the warrior I know her to be, she has fought back hard. Alyson is no quitter.
Meanwhile, cancer engaged the family in emotional warfare. I was heartbroken, mad, and frustrated all at once while looking at pictures of Alyson as a little girl collecting Easter eggs at our house and opening Christmas presents with my kids. There are photos of her at family holidays, her confirmation and graduation. Each year, she grew more beautiful inside and out.
Round 1: Alyson won. Cancer lost.
We breathed a collective sigh of relief as cancer retreated a while ago. I was amazed at the medical advancements that kept her alive. In a small way, I felt that riding for the PMC may have contributed. It made every dollar we raised seem so very important, and I was grateful to all who donated and for the opportunity to ride. It all added to our war chest against cancer.
Until there is a cure, the battle will never be won because cancer is a terrorist. It doesn’t follow the rules of warfare. It is a silent, indiscriminate killer that has no regard for age, gender, race, or economic status.
Alyson’s victory was short lived. Last year, she was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer. Again, Alyson fought back with the most advanced treatments medical science offered, but chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery have proven to be no match for this disease. Cancer has spread all over her body.
Round 2: Alyson is holding the line.
Alyson continues to undergo treatments for cancer. She is still the strong, loving, amazing woman that she has always been, but now her focus is on filling her days with peaceful moments and happiness. In my way, I’m fighting for her. I pray for her and ask God for a miracle. And, I will ride in the PMC for Alyson. Through every training ride, every mile, every hour in the saddle, I pray for a miracle. I will also ride for many others: my brother-in-law Mark; my neighbor Dan; my friend, Donna; Jenny’s husband, Vinney; Opie; 3-year-old baby Jonah who has a brain tumor; Linda’s Dad, Jack’s cousin JoAnne; gym-owner Mike, and my friend, Jess, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Although there is no "official" PMC event this year, our Cape Crusaders team will be riding together on the Cape. There are seven of us this year helping to win the battle against cancer.
Together, we can. Since its start in 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge has raised over $650,000,000 for adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. I ride for state-of-the-art research. I ride to raise awareness and to honor all those who have died from cancer and to give a fighting chance to those brave people who are still in the battle. I ride because cancer doesn't stop for Coronavirus, and Dana Farber still needs our help.
I know that this year has been very hard for many people, but if you can give even a few dollars, it will help!
100% of every donation to a rider goes directly to Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
It’s easy to donate. Please click the link on this page and donate today! Thank you so much for your generosity and for joining me in the fight against cancer. Together, we will make a difference!
With Sincere Gratitude,
Trish
Captain, Team Cape Crusaders
My niece, Alyson, is a beautiful, amazing 32-year-old woman who joined the Marines after high school. Having grown up on Cape Cod, she hadn’t seen much of the world. Enlisting in the Marines gave her an opportunity for education, travel, structure, and friendship with others who were equally committed to America and democracy. She married another soldier and had two beautiful children in between her deployments to Afghanistan and the Middle East. She was so proud of her service to this country. She is a fierce, strong, smart, dedicated soldier, although her battles are no longer on America’s battlefields.
Alyson was forced to leave the Marines a few years ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She divorced that year, too. Her world changed dramatically. She was faced with heart-wrenching decisions that no young mother or woman should ever face.
Alyson has gone through several rounds of chemotherapy and made the very difficult decision to go through multiple surgeries in an effort to fight the disease. Like the warrior I know her to be, she has fought back hard. Alyson is no quitter.
Meanwhile, cancer engaged the family in emotional warfare. I was heartbroken, mad, and frustrated all at once while looking at pictures of Alyson as a little girl collecting Easter eggs at our house and opening Christmas presents with my kids. There are photos of her at family holidays, her confirmation and graduation. Each year, she grew more beautiful inside and out.
Round 1: Alyson won. Cancer lost.
We breathed a collective sigh of relief as cancer retreated a while ago. I was amazed at the medical advancements that kept her alive. In a small way, I felt that riding for the PMC may have contributed. It made every dollar we raised seem so very important, and I was grateful to all who donated and for the opportunity to ride. It all added to our war chest against cancer.
Until there is a cure, the battle will never be won because cancer is a terrorist. It doesn’t follow the rules of warfare. It is a silent, indiscriminate killer that has no regard for age, gender, race, or economic status.
Alyson’s victory was short lived. Last year, she was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer. Again, Alyson fought back with the most advanced treatments medical science offered, but chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery have proven to be no match for this disease. Cancer has spread all over her body.
Round 2: Alyson is holding the line.
Alyson continues to undergo treatments for cancer. She is still the strong, loving, amazing woman that she has always been, but now her focus is on filling her days with peaceful moments and happiness. In my way, I’m fighting for her. I pray for her and ask God for a miracle. And, I will ride in the PMC for Alyson. Through every training ride, every mile, every hour in the saddle, I pray for a miracle. I will also ride for many others: my brother-in-law Mark; my neighbor Dan; my friend, Donna; Jenny’s husband, Vinney; Opie; 3-year-old baby Jonah who has a brain tumor; Linda’s Dad, Jack’s cousin JoAnne; gym-owner Mike, and my friend, Jess, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.
Although there is no "official" PMC event this year, our Cape Crusaders team will be riding together on the Cape. There are seven of us this year helping to win the battle against cancer.
Together, we can. Since its start in 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge has raised over $650,000,000 for adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. I ride for state-of-the-art research. I ride to raise awareness and to honor all those who have died from cancer and to give a fighting chance to those brave people who are still in the battle. I ride because cancer doesn't stop for Coronavirus, and Dana Farber still needs our help.
I know that this year has been very hard for many people, but if you can give even a few dollars, it will help!
100% of every donation to a rider goes directly to Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
It’s easy to donate. Please click the link on this page and donate today! Thank you so much for your generosity and for joining me in the fight against cancer. Together, we will make a difference!
With Sincere Gratitude,
Trish
Captain, Team Cape Crusaders
| 2020 | $740.00 | Wellesley to Wellesley (50 mile Sunday) and Volunteer |
| 2019 | $5,025.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Monument (2-Day) |
| 2018 | $5,466.00 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
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Trish Corey