Why I ride... There are so many reasons. A decade and a half of professional exposure to this disease has taught a great deal of lessons. The longer I work in cancer care, and through my annual PMC rice, there is one resounding truth I have learned- cancer touches us all in one way or another. Whether it be a father, mother, wife, friend, young parent you know in town, we are all exposed to cancer repeatedly in our lives. Although nothing can prepare one for how to react when challenged face to face, I have learned action is better than inaction, empowerment better than feeling powerless in the face of adversity.

I ride because I can. I ride becase of the thousands of faces I get to see every year on the side of Massachusetts roads with faces seeking the hope this ride provides. U RIDE WE LIVE...THANK YOU- I'm alive 17 years because of PMC.... Just a couple of signs from last year, the latter sign with the previous 16 years crossed out.

These faces, from every walk of life, see a mission to better the lives of those who have cancer and those who love(d) someone with cancer. As we ride and you donate your support because you and I believe we can do something in the face of this challenge. We can learn something through painstaking research possible with your support, we can have better time no matter how long that may be with a loved one or friend with cancer because of your support, and we can rid more people we love of this disease tomorrow than we could yesterday...

Having lost my Dad to cancer now 3 years ago, the journey with this disease is never far from my mind. Spending a career trying to help those contending with cancer only to have it strike so close to home was not unique. And yet, going to work to be present with patients remains a defining event in my every day. I will never cease to be amazed by the courage cancer requires, and provokes.

Through the years, I have held the hands of patients who have passed but for whom I miss each in their own way. Still, others have entered into their cancer experience - some very young, and others who expected to be spending their middle adulthood chasing grandchildren. Why I ride, for me, continues each and every year to be an opportunity to stand up to cancer. It is an opportunity for me to ask others to help out, a little bit here, a little bith there, all pulling in the direction toward a better tomorrow.

Coming to life more than 40 years ago, the PMC involves a commitment to capture the imense human capital of all those touched by cancer in the drive to ask for help and provide the means to get answers to how we get closer to a better tomorrow. It is this fundrasing that drives life saving and life improving research. It is this commitment and participation in something larger than ourselves that brings myself and thousands of other riders forward each and every year. And it is this commitment to support which provides all of you with the same fulfillment... Action is better than inaction...

I ride to honor all those who have touched my life- family, friends and patients alike. I ride for those who cannot. And I will always ride for my patients who have passed- how I still think of them and all of their strength and grace offered in the midst of the most human of struggles.

So many of us continue our fight in our quest to ease the burden of cancer for all. We must never stop seeking and searching for answers of how to care for patients and loved ones as it is our common humanity we share that unites us in this quest to ease the burdens of cancer on us all.

For those of us who remain- wives, sisters, brothers, daughters, grandchildren, significant others, friends, caregivers- seeking to do something more, join me with your support.

PMC weekend stands for the promise for a better future in cancer care.

Please consider joining all of the riders and volunteers committed to this cause. As the saying goes, there is a lot riding on us.

I'm a proud supporter of the PMC because it is leading a charge to beat cancer. Last year, like every year, 100% of rider-raised revenue went directly to support the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's tireless commitment to finding a cure.