Training Update

If this spring in Massachusetts was defined by anything, it was rain. Lots of it. Especially on weekends. It literally put a damper on a lot of things, including cycling. And even though we are only a few days into the summer, so far it is similarly defined by weather - HEAT. Tomorrow the temps are going to reach 102! Not ideal cycling weather. However, it is best to train for all weather conditions. In 21 years of riding the PMC, I've seen it all - oppressive heat, extreme humidity, and scorching sun, as a well a cold rain, strong winds, and dense fog. You never know what weather you're going to get in New England!

But no matter what mother nature presents, we ride. Despite my bike being in the shop for three weeks in May, and no longer being able to telework (which allowed me to swap commuting with cycling), I've carved out time for nine training rides since late April. This past Saturday, I rode 47 miles with teammates, which made the ride that much more enjoyable. 

I'm also feeling stronger so far this year. Last year, I noticed that I was a bit more exhausted after each ride and that my average speed had gone down on familiar routes since the prior year. I restarted personal training this past November after a few years away from it, and I am seeing the benefits on the bike. It helps to have a cyclist as a trainer!

I get a lot of physical and mental health benefits from riding. But the best benefit is inspiring people like you to jump on my virtual handlebars and join the fight against cancer. Together, we are getting closer by the mile to a world without cancer. 

My fundraising goal this year is $20,000, and thanks to many loyal donors, I am well on my way to reaching that lofty goal. As you know, 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund to support the innovative research and compassionate care that the brilliant team at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute delivers every single day. 

Please make your cancer-fighting donation today. I am grateful your support!

Back in the Saddle for Year 22!

While in some ways it felt like it would never come, spring is here in New England. That means flowers blooming, pollen swirling, and Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) riders saddling up to train for the two-day, 190-mile ride in early August. 

This will be my 22nd PMC. Some people ask me why I come back to the same event every year. Here are some of the primary reasons:

• The cause. Cancer affects us all, individually and as a society. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a world leader in conducting innovative cancer research and delivering life-saving, compassionate cancer care. There is no more worthy cancer charity for the fight against cancer. 
• The best of humanity on display. Every year I describe it to you, but I can’t fully put the vibes of the event into words. The camaraderie of over 10,000 riders and volunteers, the thousands who stand at the ends of their driveways with elaborate displays, fun cheers, and a simple “I’m alive because of you” signs. The world is a good place on PMC weekend. 
• You. You, my donors, inspire me to work harder to raise more money and to finish the ride strong. Hearing the stories of why you donate - to honor a coworker undergoing cancer treatment, to celebrate a sibling’s remission, to remember a dear friend who succumbed to cancer - inspire me to keep riding.

Unfortunately, since last year’s PMC, the word “cancer” has entered my life more often than I’d like. Three extended and closer family members were diagnosed with cancer. One died weeks after a stage four cancer diagnosis. Another passed after their cancer came back. And a third caught their cancer early and was able to treat it quickly. Others in my life are experiencing cancer and its effects, too.

In addition, the current presidential administration is seeking to reduce federal funding for medical research. Here is the (slightly abbreviated) message that Billy Starr, founder of the PMC, gave at last week’s Heavy Hitter Event:

"The impact of President Trump’s proposed 40% cut to the NIH budget to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute could be as much as a $200 million over the next four years. NIH grants fuel the science that saves lives. Losing those funds and/or the people who utilize them means slowing the momentum in the fight against cancer.”

“This is not politics, it’s personal. When federal support is under attack, patients are the ones who pay the price. That is why the PMC matters more than ever. The PMC is the largest single contributor to Dana-Farber. And when others may pump the brakes, the PMC community needs to accelerate.”

"So yes, we ride to raise money. But as importantly, we ride to protect progress. We ride to defend hope. And we ride to ensure that nothing—and no one—stands in the way of our funding the cures for cancer."

Billy got a well-deserved standing ovation after he said these words.

So, I am extra motivated to ride my 22nd PMC in August. My fundraising goal this year is $20,000, which will put me over $200,000 raised since I started riding in 2004. It’s an ambitious goal, but the unrestricted funding that the PMC raises through your donations has never been more critical in the fight against cancer.

As it has been for the last 20 years, 100% of your donation will go directly to funding the innovative cancer research and life-saving cancer care that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute delivers. Please make your cancer-fighting donation today. 

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.