I am deeply committed to ending the suffering caused by cancer. This year will be my twenty-fourth (24) straight Pan-Mass Challenge. In 2024, I continue riding the PMC in memory of my mother, Gael Harrington Mahon and my sister Erin Mahon Crowther and in support of ALL individuals and families impacted by this terrible disease.
PMC cyclists ride with the collective goal of a world without cancer! Twenty-four (24) years ago, I pledged that as long as there is anybody I know dealing with cancer (and I can physically pedal) then I will continue to ride in the PMC. I will ride until we find a cure (After we find a cure then I will ride one more year in celebration and then retire!). This year, I'll be pedalling, as urgently as ever, as several very dear people to me have been impacted by cancer.
On August 3rd and 4th, I will ride with approximately 6,000 cyclists all the way to Provincetown, the tip of Cape Cod. This year's PMC takes place around my birthday and there is nothing I would rather be doing on my birthday than riding almost 200 miles to help individuals and families impacted by cancer. The honor of riding in support of anyone impacted by this awful disease and in memory of my mother Gael, my sister Erin, my cousin Julie Mahon Hasson and Ellie Bauer, is the greatest birthday present. Riding to help people is the best gift that I could ever give back to my mother, Gael and sister, Erin. [Ellie Bauer was my wife's student and our amazing Newburyport PMC Kids Ride pedal partner. Ellie passed prior to her tenth birthday, following a courageous battle against Neuroblastoma. Ellie was a true warrior and will always be an inspiration to my family. I continue to honor Ellie and the entire Bauer family with every turn of my pedals.]
My commitment to end the suffering caused by cancer is deeply personal. Four (4) of my sisters have been diagnosed with cancer. Until fourteen (14) years ago, I could always say, humbly but proudly, that my sisters were all CANCER SURVIVORS!!! But, on St. Patrick's Day 2010, my beautiful sister Erin Mahon Crowther died after battling breast cancer for seventeen (17) years. Erin's amazing courage, strength, love and pride exhibited throughout her many medical challenges and treatments were incredible and an inspiration to all of our family. Erin never let cancer define her. She always lived and enjoyed life to the fullest. Erin was the epitomy of friendship and motherhood and is stark proof that cancer does not discriminate whom it takes from us. Cancer targets our LOVED ones.
With the incredibly generous support of so many family, friends and colleagues, I have been able to raise, over my last twenty-three (23) PMC rides, more than $151,000.00 to support innovative cancer research, treatment and patient care. My goal is to raise over $200,000.00 by the time I complete my 30th PMC ride.
Riding in the PMC, I am repaying a personal debt of gratitude to Dana-Farber. In 2024, the PMC remains my single best arena where I can take an awesome stand against an awful disease that has devastated too many lives.
I ride the PMC to support and thank the doctors, nurses, researchers and staff at Dana-Farber for their care and expertise given to all patients, including my own sisters. This year, once again, I will keep the memories of my mother Gael and sister Erin on every turn of my pedals. I know they will each be proudly smiling down as I ride to help ALL individuals and families impacted by cancer, especially the children treated at the Jimmy Fund's pediatric oncology clinic.
Ultimately, I ride to find a cure for cancer, in our lifetime, that will eliminate so much suffering. I ride now to discover HOPE for the future! Hope that my daughter Fiona Gael's generation will never be impacted by cancer in the way we all have been.
For the seventeenth (17) straight year, I am incredibly honored to represent Team Trooper Tested in the PMC. Riding in the PMC has created many fond memories but one of my proudest memories was when thirty-eight (38) Massachusetts State Troopers rode, together, in the 2008 PMC. We collectively raised over $163,000.00 to support innovative cancer research, traetment and patient care.
If possible, please consider making a 100% tax deductible donation to my fundraising efforts. My eGift Id is TM0064. Any amount is appreciated and gratefully accepted. Donations can be accepted for the 2024 PMC until October 1, 2024. Any donation will help towards achieving my personal fundraising goal of $10,000.00. 100% of rider raised dollars goes directly to the Jimmy Fund which funds innovative cancer research, treatment and patient care at the Dana-Cancer Institute. The money raised from the PMC accounts for more than one half of the Jimmy Fund's money raised for the entire year. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think might be interested in supporting this cause. Many companies will match their employees donations. Together, WE make a huge difference!!! WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. The PMC is a registered 501c3 charity.
Pedal on,
Tom Mahon
