When you lose someone to cancer it is hard not to get angry. There’s an overwhelming feeling of it not being fair, right or comprehensible. Cancer takes the lives of too many amazing people too soon. In 2007, Kevin W. Fitzgerald, a wonderful husband, father, brother, State Representative, coach, sponsor and mentor, lost his battle with cancer and a lot of people got angry; but then an incredible thing happened when some of those same people decided to get active. In 2008, Team Kevin Fitz formed to participate in their first Pan Mass Challenge.
Since its inception 17 years ago, Team Kevin Fitz has raised nearly 2 MILLION dollars and plans to exceed that number after PMC 2024. When the team began, it was comprised of members of the Fitzgerald family and close family friends. Today, it is a place where friends, family and complete strangers to Kevin Fitz have joined together to ride in remembrance of their own loved ones that they have lost, in honor of those fighting, and in hopes to find a cure.
It is unfortunate that every year there is a reason to ride, as none of us wish that was the case. Eight years ago, Team Kevin Fitz found themselves as angry as ever with cancer. Big Leo Rusk, a longtime best friend of Kevin Fitz, lost his battle with cancer on February 18, 2016. Leo was the father of four Team Kevin Fitz veteran riders Jenny, Leo, Chris and Emily and he was one of the most selfless and loyal men. So just as Team Kevin Fitz prepared to do in 2008 and every year since, we are letting our anger at cancer for taking the ones we love fuel our motivation for this cause. It is our hope that with the money we raise through riding that we will find cures and treatments to prevent such devastating losses in the future.
All of the members of Team Fitz want to thank all of you for your continued support over the years as we head into our 15th ride. The generosity we have received is overwhelming and truly speaks to how important the lives of those who we ride for are. We will not stop getting angry at cancer, we will continue to ride.
