Ready or not, 2025 has arrived with a whole mix of emotions-happy anticipation of all the little joys the new year may bring; anxiety for all the turmoil and uncertainty the year may bring; personal triumphs and disappointments; and mostly, gratitude for being blessed with another year to share with our family and friends. A year full of promise and new challenges.
I delayed registering for the ride this year – I have conflicts and commitments and am receiving tons of pressure from the family to give it up. As you know, I am not really a long distance bike rider so it is a huge commitment for me to train for the ride, which in turn impacts all those around me, for all the months leading up to the event. While I am out on my training rides, this leaves Christopher with task of keeping the household running....
I plan to do the reimagined again this year but it will just be a small, 50 mile ride. My oldest daughter and her husband are expecting a baby in the spring. Chris and I are still working full time, so I want to be as available as possible in my free time to greet and help care for our new family member.
You have never given up on me, without your support my previous fundraising rides would not have been possible. Although I am only doing a one day, 50 mile ride this year, I hope that you will join me again by supporting my little ride with your prayers, positive thoughts and if possible, please consider a donation. All donations, whether they be small medium or large, help us achieve our unified goal of a cancer free world. I have given up my Facebook account and my Instagram account so I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider spreading the word and sharing my request to your friends and connections, 'many hands make light work'. Thank you! Every penny and positive thought is needed and appreciated.
One final note, I have decided that this is definitely my last year to ride, at least in the foreseeable future. I hope you are not too disappointed in me for such a short ride/commitment and, for my decision for this to be my last year. Although I will not be riding next year, in lieu of the ride, I plan to sponser someone else's ride and, I hope you will too!
100% of the funds raised are given to the Dana-Farber Jimmy Fund; these funds account for 55% of their entire annual budget!
I ride in memory of my dad, Fred Hogan and, my sister Martha, my brother in law Matt Brophy and WAY too many other wonderful people, including my uncle Matt Caldbeck, my father-in-law, Chuck Brophy; my friends including Chris Galley, Mary Corliss, Anne Kittle, Frank, Susie Childs, Betsy Hurley, Gloria, Gwendolyn Whitney D'Amico, my colleague, Dave Lupone and Kathy, the dear sister of my close friends Maura and John Dunn.
I am also riding to honor and encourage friends and family that are continuing to fight or, who have fought and WON the battle with cancer, including Charleen Tyson, Matty Brophy Jr., Betsy Pinkus, Betsy Meek, Michele Boulogne-Kinnealey, Ann Childs, Bethany Uptegrove, Kevin Brophy, Mary Harrington, Billy Hogan, Ed Hoyt, Steve Etkind, and Alison Leonard, and for all the future sisters, brothers, friends, etc. - so that together, through the funding of innovative research and development, we stop the disease forever and ultimately win this war. Hopefully, if we continue chipping away at this together, soon there will be no need for future PMC fundraisers because we will have conquered cancer.
https://www.pmc.org/blog/glimcher2019impactletter
In 2020 the official race was cancelled and it was up to the riders to devise their own route, I wrote the below acrostic poem...
PANDEMIC PMC
PESTILENCE & POLITICAL UNREST WILL NOT STAND IN OUR WAY,
A DEDICATED PMC TEAM WILL PERSERVERE, WE ARE HERE TO STAY.
NO CROSSING GUARDS, NO CROWDS OF THOUSANDS AND SADLY, NO CHEERING FANS;
DESPITE THESE DAUNTING OBSTACLES, THE TEAM DEVELOPS PLANS.
ENVISIONING A FUTURE - CANCER FREE FOR ALL OF YOU AND MAYBE ME;
MAYBE IF WE CONTINUE WORKING TOGETHER, OUR DREAM WILL COME TO BE.
INSIDE OUR HEARTS, OUR LOVE ONES LOST, RESIDE IN PEACE AND TRUST;
CALLING UPON US TO DO ALL WE CAN TO BEAT THIS FOE – WE MUST!
PLEASE SEND A PRAYER THIS RIDE WILL FARE SO WELL FOR ALL OUR TEAM,
MAY ALL RIDE SAFE, MAY WE MEET OUR GOALS AND ULTIMATELY FULFILL OUR DREAM;
CONQUER CANCER – I HOPE – WE MUST – AT LEAST THAT IS OUR SCHEME!
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MARTHA
Our hearts are broken, our tears cannot dry; God has taken our dear sister Martha, and we cannot fathom why
She was too young to go, of that we are sure; Her family is bereft, since the day she was no more
Our lives forever altered, the void cannot be filled; Each day is tinged with sadness, since Martha’s life was stilled
We are floundering here dear Lord, our prayers so far unheeded; Perhaps dear Lord you did not know how much our Martha was needed?
Her family and friends are at a loss, stumbling through the days; Trying to find some comfort and answers to our questions through the haze
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Martha our dear sister full of life, love and joy; Always in our hearts, absent from our lives
Rest in peace our dear Martha, securely in the know; That your loving family will never let you go
We could not stop the evil tide that swept your life away; But working hard to alter the course; usher in a new day
We WILL DEFEAT THIS THIEF OF LIFE who stole our loved ones dear; Through the efforts of many, that day is surely near.
