Riding for Captain Dave

2014 marks my 11^th Pan-Mass Challenge ride. As I have done for the last 11 years, I will ride across Massachusetts this August to raise money for the Jimmy Fund in support of life-saving cancer research and care at Boston’s renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. As I have done for the last five years, I will wear my blue and yellow team jersey on the second day of the ride with my Team Kinetic Karma teammates. Each year, we ride for all of those affected by cancer, as well as our young pedal partners. But this year, we ride for Captain Dave.

Dave registered for his first Pan-Mass Challenge in 2002 upon learning of his mother’s fourth cancer diagnosis. She had beaten cancer three times before, and Dave was confident that she would beat it again. Dave and his family pursued numerous treatment options, some brand new and untested, in the hope that she would conquer cancer a fourth time. Despite Dave’s valiant efforts to find a treatment to save his mother, she passed away on the first Friday in August that year. Dave somberly began his first Pan-Mass Challenge the very next day.

In 2003, Dave formed Team Kinetic Karma, the team that I now am on. He has grown the group over the years to become an eclectic second family for its members. He celebrated with several teammates as the 2013 PMC check was presented to Dana-Farber last November. Days later, he received a terrifying diagnosis of his own. Stage 3 oropharyngeal (throat) cancer.

Dave’s doctors at Dana-Farber – the very hospital he had raised over $140,000 for by riding the PMC – prepared a course of treatment to destroy his cancer. The treatments consisted of robotic surgery to cut out his tonsils and parts of his throat, soft palate, and tongue to remove the cancer, followed by  traditional surgery to remove 18 lymph nodes in his neck. He then underwent six weeks of radiation therapy. Near the beginning of his daily radiation treatments, Dave came over for dinner and we caught up on things cancer-related and not. At the time, he had been jogging to and from his appointments in an effort to stay healthy – and to retain a sense of normalcy. By the end of his treatments, the cumulative effects of radiation had him relegated to his bed and unable to eat much on his own.

Over a month has passed since his last radiation treatment. Messages from Dave were mostly about his lethargy and his frustration about losing weight and energy, and waiting for that elusive light at the end of the tunnel, signaling a turning point in his recovery.

Meanwhile, Team Kinetic Karma started gearing up for the 2014 PMC – we held our first official training ride of the season a few weeks ago. I went fully expecting to take a group photo to send to Dave to cheer him up. As I pulled in, I noticed Dave’s car. I first thought of how nice it was that he came to see us off. Then I saw him dressed in his Team Kinetic Karma jersey. And bike shorts. And I thought, maybe he will ride the first five miles or so (we had planned a 28-mile loop).

Dave rode the entire 28-mile ride with us! And he looked strong! If Dave hadn’t seen that light yet, he definitely pedaled toward it, and I think he may have found it that day. I’m not a doctor (I don’t even play one on TV), but I can say that on that day, I saw a man who had conquered cancer. Dave’s journey has been inspirational throughout, from diagnosis in November to surgery in December to radiation in January and February to a 28-mile bike ride in April. I’ve never been more inspired to ride the PMC.

At 41 riders, Team Kinetic Karma will field its largest contingent ever for the 2014 PMC. I will be among them. So will Dave. I can’t wait to approach the finish line in Provincetown, “champagne” toast in hand, with my friend.

Please support my Pan-Mass Challenge ride in honor of Dave and all the other brave cancer fighters, and in memory of those that we have lost to cancer. 100% of your donation will go straight to the Jimmy Fund in support of the research and care that helped save Dave’s life and the lives of thousands of others. Dave is making his cancer history. Will you help make cancer, as we know it, history? Please make your donation today.