This year, instead of telling you again about the PMC and how far it is (162 miles) and how much money it has raised (over a BILLION DOLLARS), I'd like to tell you what the PMC means to me.

Those who know me know that I am not a passionate cyclist. I find the hills hard, the training long and my bum gets sore. Each year I feel anxious about my ability to successfully train and complete the ride. But to pedal the beautiful course alongside thousands of other cyclists, all of whom have put in the hard work, is pretty inspiring. Many riders are what the PMC calls Living Proof - cancer patients and survivors. Along the route are people cheering the riders on with some holding signs that read I'm alive because of you. Those always make me cry. Even though it's hard, I do it every year - because I still can.

As I train for the ride, I can't help but think of the people that I have lost or whose lives have been affected by cancer and each and every year that list grows longer. I am not alone when it comes to the impact cancer has on my life - certainly each of us has been touched in some way by this disease. In the past year alone, cancer has taken the lives of two special friends who left behind families that deserve to still have them here.

Also this year, both of my daughters learned that they carry a genetic mutation that will significantly increase their risk of certain cancers in their lifetime. While this knowledge is a gift and will allow them to be proactive, they will always need to be diligent.

My hope is that by raising funds for cancer research we can, one day, put a stop to the toll cancer takes.

Please consider donating to my ride. You can visit pmc.org and search for my name or simply google PMC Tracey Finch. You can also visit my instagram page (traceyfinch) and click the link in my bio. Thank you in advance for any support - together we will make a difference!