This Weekend, We Ride.

 

As the sun rises two days before my 22nd Pan-Mass Challenge, I am grateful.

I am grateful that, despite fewer training miles under my figurative belt than normal, my legs feel strong, and my body feels ready to climb every hill and bomb down every descent.

I am grateful for the volunteers who will nourish us for the long ride ahead. Fluffernutter sandwiches always taste better when made by a volunteer! I guarantee the first tears of the weekend will come when a child volunteer pours water into my bottle and thanks me for riding. No, thank YOU, kid! 😭

I am grateful for my fellow riders. As we descent on Sturbridge tomorrow afternoon, the crowds of riders remind us all that we are a part of something much larger than ourselves. We all have our reasons for riding and fundraising, and together, we are making a difference in the trajectory of cancer. It is an awe-inspiring sight to see as we all depart from Sturbridge in the same jersey - the same team.

I am grateful for my Kinetic Karma teammates. My team Captain, Dave, pulled together a rag-tag group of misfits into one of the biggest fundraising teams in the entire PMC. I am looking forward to the rolling party that we create as we roll through town after town. My teammates helped me understand that cycling is a team sport.

I am grateful for the doctors, researchers, nurses, and staff at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for taking the infusion of cash raised by the PMC and innovating solutions to cancer treatment that no one has thought of before, or that no agency was willing to fund because it wasn't a likely success. Dana-Farber is changing the way cancer is treated, and in doing so, is saving and extending lives - the lives of our friends and family, including several of my teammates. 

Finally, and this is a big one, I am grateful for my donors. Over the last 22 years, you have helped me raise $215,000 to support Dana-Farber. You are the reason I get to enjoy my favorite weekend of the year. You are the reason that all of this happens - the cancer research, the pacelines, the 6,800-rider event, and the fluffernutters. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

I increased my fundraising goal this year because I know I can do more, so why stop now? My new goal is $22,000, of which I have about $1,500 left to raise. If you haven't donated yet, now is the time! Make a donation today in honor of or in memory of a loved one who battled cancer. Together, we will make cancer HISTORY!

$5,000 in 7 Days Challenge!

It is time, once again, for my annual PMC fundraising challenge! As you know, for my 22nd PMC, this year my goal is to raise $20,000 for the fight against cancer. My 2025 PMC ride - 190 miles over two days on August 2 and 3 - is approaching quickly!

Over the next seven days, I hope to raise $5,000 in support of my goal. In order to help make that happen, I have some awesome and generous friends who have donated items for me to raffle off! The raffle prizes are:

• A two-night stay at the 8 Dyer Hotel in Provincetown;
• A 90-minute massage at Boston Massage Associates in Boston;
• A $100 REI gift card; and
• A $50 gift card to the local restaurant of your choice.

Raffle tickets are $25 each, or five for $100. The raffle runs from now through the end of the day on Tuesday, July 15. You can purchase raffle tickets by making a donation online. I will pull five winning tickets; the first winner will have their choice of prize, then the second, and so on, until all prizes are awarded.

Have you already made a donation and feel left out of the raffle? Fear not! If you make an ADDITIONAL donation, I will DOUBLE the number of raffle tickets you get. For example, donate an additional $25, and get TWO raffle tickets; donate an additional $100, and get TEN raffle tickets!

As always, 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund, which supports innovative and life-saving cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This is one of the BEST ways to make an impact in the fight against cancer. Together, we can make cancer HISTORY (and you can win some fabulous prizes, too!).

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 $22,000, 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.

 

Another Fantastic PMC Weekend!

Over a week has passed, and I am finally coming down from the high that the Pan-Mass Challenge gives me every year. It's a familiar feeling as I re-enter reality after a weekend of camaraderie, support, and fun. Last Friday, I took a PMC bus to Sturbridge, my starting location. After retrieving my bike from the truck, registering (for the 21st time), and checking into my hotel, I returned to the starting location to meet up with my teammates, have a carbo-load dinner (and a few beers), and to watch the PMC opening ceremonies. The speakers this year were particularly inspiring, reminding us of the benefits of the huge amount of unrestricted funding that we raise each year.

It was early to bed, as wake-up on Saturday morning was 4 AM. Thankfully, the weather forecast improved. While it rained overnight, it didn't rain on us in the morning (though it was in the 70s, as were the dew points, so it was still quite wet). We all wear our 2024 PMC jerseys on Day 1, and it feels so cool to be in a sea of thousands of red jerseys - thousands of people from all over the state and beyond, committed to the same goal. We roll at 5:30 AM, after the annual singing of the National Anthem. As is tradition, I stopped a few miles in to say hi to Sheila, one of my most consistent supporters. Thanks for coming out year after year, Sheila!

Day 1 is the hillier of the two days. In particular, the first 40 miles include lots of steep climbs, and yes, steep descents. My familiarity with the route and the strength of my teammates riding together makes each climb a little easier. Also, there are often folks at the top of the hills cheering us on, giving us the motivation to push ourselves a little harder.

While it didn't rain on Day 1, it was hot and humid. Very much so. I kept drinking water with electrolytes which helped, but I was sweating it all out faster than I could take it in. Luckily, I avoided leg cramps which are common in extreme heat. The folks along the route who sprayed their hoses at us were so nice! As we approached the water stop at mile 85, we passed a mile of large signs with photos of all of the pedal partners (kids undergoing cancer treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. A few teammates and I stopped to get a photo with the sign for Zinnia, our pedal partner (who we visited the weekend prior).

My teammates crossed the Day 1 finish line at the Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne shortly after 2 PM. Then a familiar order of operations began: park bike, get massage appointment, take a MUCH needed shower, get massage, have so much food, and have a few celebratory beers. It turned out to be a beautiful, sunny, and breezy afternoon and evening! Being right on Buzzards Bay helped with the heat and humidity, but the wind was a bit of foreshadowing for Sunday!

Day 2, like Day 1, starts early, I departed from the Mass Maritime Academy at 5 AM (still dark!) and picked up my teammates Theresa and Andrea along the way, en route to the Bourne Bridge. Luckily there wasn't too much congestion (lots of bikes in a tight space make it slow going!) and we rode over the bridge to meet the rest of our teammates on the other side. From there, we enjoyed a tailwind as we rode north along the Cape Cod Canal bike path at sunrise - absolutely stunning! From there, we ride through the quiet streets of Sandwich (quiet because it's still before 6 AM!) before jumping on the roller coaster ride that is Service Road. Keep up your momentum and you'll bomb down the descents and fly up the hills! Before we know it, we are at the first rest stop in Barnstable.

The rest of Day 2 has similar fun milestones to hit. The volunteers at the Brewster water stop (the Day 2 halfway point) always have the BEST frozen treats and they play the best music! We get our first glimpse of Cape Cod Bay at a scenic point along the ride. We ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. We climb a steep hill and are rewarded with Twizzlers from my teammate Lance's family. And we climb, climb, climb the Truro Hills. The ride ends with two doozies - a long, exposed stretch of Route 6 (we had very strong crosswinds this year) and three steep climbs in the Provincelands. But Team Kinetic Karma always ends with a "champagne" toast! I finished feeling strong and accomplished - 21 PMCs in the books!

The ride is over, but the fundraising is not. I am still working hard to meet my personal $20,000 fundraising goal. 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of the innovative research and compassionate care that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is world-renowned for. Please make your cancer-fighting donation today. Thank you for your support!

The PMC is This Weekend!

The week leading up to the Pan-Mass Challenge is always when the butterflies start settling into my stomach (anticipation has always been a palpable feeling for me). Knowing that my favorite weekend of the year was approaching would always make my stomach churn, in the best way. As the years of me riding the PMC went on, uncertainty about what the ride would be like turned into certainty that it would be hard, but also so, so amazing. The butterflies in my stomach would change color, but would always appear as PMC weekend approached.

2024 is no different. The butterflies are back! This will be my 21st PMC, so the butterflies this year aren't about what to expect, where the hills will be hardest, and what it will feel like to cross the finish line. They're the anticipatory ones: excitement about seeing friends I see once a year, refreshing the weather forecast hourly (looks like we will be feeling raindrops all weekend!), and wondering what critical item I will forget this year. But also: have I trained enough? Will I have any mechanical issues? How hot is my dorm room going to be?

In 24 hours, I will enter PMC Land, a nirvana of sorts where riders are praised by strangers for the mere act of riding (well, ok, fundraising too). Where I exude gratitude for simple things like a high five from a kid along the route or a fluffernutter (YUM) made by a hard-working volunteer. Where 10,000+ riders and volunteers put aside any difference in pursuit of a common goal - a world without cancer. I think the world would be a better place if everyone could experience the spirit of the PMC.

A simple but impactful way that you can experience a taste of that feeling is to support my PMC ride by making a donation. 100% of your donation will go to the Jimmy Fund, which directly supports the innovative research and compassionate care being done by the world-renowned Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I set an ambitious fundraising goal this year - $20,000 - and I know I can get there with your help. I am 80% of the way toward reaching my goal. The ride begins on Saturday - NOW is the time to make your cancer-fighting donation.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

Entering the Home Stretch

The end of July always means one thing for me - the Pan-Mass Challenge is SOON! Time to get those final hill climbs in, and to send those final fundraising emails. On Saturday, many of my teammates and I went on an 83-mile training ride. For me, it was the longest and hardest training ride I will do before the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) next weekend. The weather was perfect - warm and sunny - the kind of weather I hope to have for the PMC. But the weather and camaraderie wasn't the best part of the ride; it was seeing our current pedal partner, Zinnia, and our former pedal partner, Maya.

The team with Zinnia!

This is our third year of having Zinnia as our pedal partner. She is an adorable six-year-old that was diagnosed with bilateral nephroblastomatosis when she was four. Zinnia has been through a lot in her young life, but I am thrilled to say that she is thriving, thanks to her amazing spirit and the wonderful researchers and care team at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute! 

Maya, the daughter of a colleague of mine, was our pedal partner from 2017 through 2019. When Maya was 5, doctors found a large mass on one of her kidneys. Following surgery to remove the Clear Cell Sarcoma tumors, a very rare renal cancer. After radiation and chemotherapy, Maya beat her cancer, again with the help of the amazing team at Dana-Farber.

The team with Maya!

Zinnia's and Maya's are two of many resounding success stories of how Dana-Farber is changing lives for the better. I'm thrilled to be a part of the Pan-Mass Challenge, which raises over half of the funding that the Jimmy Fund raises for Dana Farber each year. A few weeks ago, the PMC crossed a monumental milestone - raising $1 BILLION since 1980. With your support, we will help Dana-Farber ensure that more kids like Zinnia and Maya have similar success stories.

As I enter the home stretch before my 21st PMC, my legs feel ready for the ride ahead, but I am still short of my ambitious fundraising goal of $20,000. Please make your cancer-fighting donation today. 100% of it will go straight to the Jimmy Fund in support of the innovative research that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is doing. Research that saved the life of my team captain, Dave, several other teammates, Zinnia and Maya, and many of our friends and loved ones. Together, we are making cancer HISTORY. Thank you!