2026 PMC - What a Ride!

My leg muscles are no longer sore, people very infrequently are cheering me on from their driveways (though a neighbor told me yesterday that she liked my shirt!), and I haven't had a fluffernutter in over a week. The 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge is officially over, and I had yet another wonderful weekend with over 6,000 fellow riders. And now more than ever, I'm confident that riding the ride and raising the funds is making a huge difference in the fight against cancer.

Day 0 Crew at Quabbin Reservoir

DAY 0: You'll recall that I decided to tack on a few (60) extra miles for this year's PMC, and that took the form of a "Day 0" ride from Hadley, MA to the new PMC starting location at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. My teammates who rode from the NY/MA border met me in Hadley in the late morning and we rode east on familiar trails and roads (I grew up in Belchertown, which we rode through). After a brief stop at the Quabbin Reservoir (where I spent much of my childhood) we continued on through the rolling hills of Hampshire and Worcester Counties. And boy, do I mean hills! We did more climbing in 60 miles on Day 0 than we did over 100 miles on Day 1! And the last hill - the ascent to Holy Cross's hilltop campus, was a doozy. We finished strong, and it wasn't long until I was showered, registered for the ride, and beered.

I always try to attend the PMC Opening Ceremonies, as it is the emotional kickoff to the weekend. Riders, doctors, and patients tell their cancer stories and why the PMC is so important to them. More than ever before, we heard not only stories of survival, but of treatments that didn't exist 5, 10, 20 years ago. Hearing "if I had been diagnosed 5 years earlier, I would be dead" sent chills down my spine. The money that we raise - and that YOU donate - is enabling these massive advancements in cancer treatments, like immunotherapies that turn our own immune systems into cancer-fighting machines. To cap off the evening, The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, appeared on the screen to share his gratitude for the PMC and Dana-Farber while announcing that his wife Patti is in remission from her multiple myeloma diagnosis from eight years ago. Inspired, I went to bed ready for the real ride.

Day 1 Lunch Time!

Day 1: The first day of the PMC always starts early, before sunrise. But now with the new starting location and slightly shorter route, we roll out at 6:00 AM, not 5:30. Having spent the previous evening at Holy Cross, I was familiar with the layout of the campus, which calmed my nerves a bit. Rollout was smooth, and at mile 2, I was greeted by my friends Sheila and Ron, who always would come out to cheer us on as we rolled through Charlton. Thanks for making the trek to Worcester! 

The first 23 miles of the route were on new-to-us roads - still beautiful, and still hilly. After that, we joined the traditional Day 1 route, following the familiar route through suburban neighborhoods, farmlands, and golf courses. Though my legs were tired from Day 0, they stayed strong through all 100 miles of Day 1. The nice weather helped (though it was a little humid!). Upon crossing the Day 1 finish line in Bourne, I went through my usual checklist - park the bike, get a beer, get my massage ticket, say hi to my Volunteer friend Kim, get my much-needed 15-minute massage, eat, and relax! After sunset (and saying goodnight to the bikes!) I headed to bed, ready to rest for the final day of the ride.

Crossing the Day 2 Finish Line

Day 2: Unlike the two previous days, Day 2 was 100% familiar. I've done this ride every single year since 2004, and it flies by because of all of the milestones we hit. Crossing the Bourne Bridge, riding along the Cape Cod Canal at sunrise, and the roller coaster ride that is Service Road are all before the first rest stop! Before I knew it, we were ascending the hills of Truro, slogging along the exposed stretch of Route 6, and tackling the dunes in Provincetown. I finished with my teammates just before 11 AM and we toasted to yet another wonderful ride.

While the ride is over, the fundraising continues. I am $1,545 away from my $20,000 fundraising goal. Remember, every cent of what you donate goes directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of the innovative cancer research and treatments that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is implementing right now. Your donations are saving lives, as evidenced by all of the stories I heard during the opening ceremonies. Please make your cancer-fighting donation today, in honor of my commitment, in honor or memory of a loved one, or just because it's good for humanity. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Tomorrow, We Ride.

This is the part of the summer where the butterflies start settling into my stomach (anticipation has always been a palpable feeling for me). Knowing that my favorite weekend of the year, the Pan-Mass Challenge, is approaching always makes 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 have changed color over time, but they still appear as PMC weekend approaches.

This year, the butterflies feel a little more intense, like those from 2004 (my first PMC), from 2006 (my first PMC starting in Sturbridge), from 2014 (the cold downpour PMC), and from 2020 (my "reimagined" Covid PMC). They are uncertainty butterflies, but hopeful butterflies. Things will be different this year:

• I've signed up for an extra 60 miles of riding on the day before the PMC - Have I trained enough? 
• The new starting location is Worcester - What will it be like? Will it live up to the traditional Sturbridge start? Will I know where to go?
• The start of the Day 1 route will be different - Will it be easier or harder? Will people still come to cheer us on?

But some of the most important things will be the same. I am still riding to Provincetown, as I have done every single year since 2004. Most of the route will be on familiar roads. We will visit with our new Pedal Partner, Maggie, at the Pedal Partner water stop on Saturday. We will cross the Bourne Bridge. We will ride the dunes. We will eat fluffernutters. We will laugh, cry, and experience all of the same emotions we feel during every PMC. This year's PMC will be a display of humanity at its finest, as it always is.

Thank you to the many of you who have already virtually jumped on my handlebars and contributed toward my fundraising goal. If you haven't donated yet, there is still plenty of time! I’m only $2,700 away from my $20,000 goal. I would love for you to join in this ride, join this fight. Now, more than ever, it is important to support the fight against cancer. 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's ground-breaking cancer research. Please make your cancer-fighting donation now!

Follow me on Facebook and Instagram tomorrow through Sunday as I ride 240 miles across Massachusetts. You will be the wind at my back, the virtual cheers on the sidelines, and I will think of you all as we literally say cheers to a ride well ridden in Provincetown on Friday. 

I really, really appreciate your support.

Readying to Ride

We're deep into summer now, as evidenced by the hot, humid days and afternoon thunderstorms over the last week. Amid everything Mother Nature has to offer here in New England, I and thousands of other Pan-Mass Challenge riders are putting their butts on very small bike seats to train for the ride - less than two weeks away!

So far in July alone, I've ridden almost 200 miles to train for my 23rd PMC. My weekends have been pretty busy, so I've been putting in as many miles as possible in the quiet mornings before heading to work. In addition to adding time in the saddle, the early morning starts are the perfect preparation for the early starts on PMC weekend.

This past Sunday, I met my teammates in Westport, MA for our annual Pedal Partner ride. The PMC Pedal Partner program pairs PMC cycling teams with children undergoing cancer treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. This year, we are paired with Maggie, a vibrant six-year-old who is kicking butt in her fight against cancer! She lives in Rhode Island, so my team captain organized a beautiful 60-mile ride to see her. While the wind was intense, the views of the ocean and quaint villages we visited were reminiscent of the Day 2 PMC route. All of these rides have been great training for my three-day PMC.

I can hear some of you now - "Three days? I thought you said it was two!" In case you missed it, I've decided to tack on some extra miles for my 23rd PMC. On Friday, July 31 (a day referred to by my teammates as "Day 0,") I'll ride 60 miles from Amherst, Massachusetts to the new PMC starting location in Worcester. That, plus the 100 miles on Day 1 and 80 miles on Day 2, totals 240 miles over three days.

That means I've increased my riding commitment by 33%. Perhaps that inspires you to increase your support of my ride? Remember, as it has been for the last 20 years, 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of the innovative cancer research and compassionate cancer care that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute delivers every single day. Especially in this time of uncertainty of federal grants for anything science-related, your donations are more critical than ever to continue to pursuit of a cancer-free world.

Please give, give generously, and give what you can. Together, we are getting closer by the mile. Make your cancer-fighting donation today. 

$5,000 in 7 Days Challenge!

It is time, once again, for my annual PMC fundraising challenge! As you know, for my 23rd PMC, this year my goal is to raise $20,000 for the fight against cancer. My 2026 PMC ride - 180 miles over two days on August 1 and 2 - 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 60-minute massage at Boston Massage Associates in Boston;
• A $100 REI gift card;
• A $50 gift card to Yolqueria or Mezzeterranean in Provincetown, and
• A custom bottle of your favorite cocktail, hand-crafted by yours truly (local to Boston only)!

Raffle tickets are $25 each, or five for $100. The raffle runs from now through the end of the day on Tuesday, July 14. 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!).

A Journey Through Riding the PMC

After riding the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) for over two decades, I am intimately familiar with the physical and emotional roller coaster that defines this incredible two-day (sometimes three-day!) journey across Massachusetts. While every year brings different weather—from torrential downpours to scorching heat waves to beautiful, breezy days—the rhythm of the weekend has become a cherished tradition. If you have ever wondered what it is actually like to ride across the state with tens of thousands of riders, volunteers, and cheerers, here is a glimpse into the milestones that make the PMC the best weekend of the year.

Day 1: Adrenaline, Hills, and Heart
The PMC starts in the dark. Alarms go off around 4:00 AM, and thousands of riders shuffle around under floodlights to load luggage on trucks, pump tires, and grab a quick breakfast - the busy pre-dawn dance to the tune of hard bike shoes clacking on pavement. At 5:30 AM, after a rousing rendition of the National Anthem, a moving sea of cyclists in matching jerseys clips in and rolls out into the sunrise.

The first 40 miles are notoriously hilly, serving as an immediate wake-up call for your legs. However, the difficulty of the early climbs is offset by the incredible energy of the folks who cheer us along. By mid-morning, we hit Cherry Street in Wrentham, a neighborhood that transforms a half-mile stretch of road into a massive party complete with bands, banners, cheering crowds, and even a bagpiper (no Scotland, no party!).

After lunch, physical exhaustion starts to set in, but it is eclipsed by the emotional weight of the ride. The route to the Lakeville water stop is lined with large photos of the "Pedal Partners"—children currently undergoing cancer treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Seeing the smiling faces of our pedal partners over the years, like Charlotte, Maya, Abel, and Zinnia, always brings tears to my eyes and reminds us exactly why we push through the pain. 

After over 100 miles, Day 1 concludes at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne. The post-ride routine is now engrained in my DNA: park the bike, sign up for a 15-minute massage, grab a much-needed shower, and enjoy the ultimate recovery fuel—an ice-cold beer and all the food I could ever want to eat.

Day 2: Sunrises, Roller Coasters, and the Dunes
Day 2 begins with another pre-dawn wake-up. As we leave Bourne, we immediately face the slow, steep climb over the Bourne Bridge, which rewards us with a breathtaking sunrise. From there, we speed along the Cape Cod Canal bike path before tackling the exhilarating, undulating hills of Service Road—the closest thing you can experience to a roller coaster on a bicycle.

The Day 2 route is packed with iconic milestones. Around mile 38, we ride past "Da Hedge," a massive wall of cheering children from the Cape Cod Sea Camps. In Wellfleet, we are powered up a particularly steep hill by mt teammate's family passing out Twizzlers and Red Bull.

The final stretch tests every ounce of remaining endurance. We push through the challenging Truro hills and battle the often-windy, exposed stretches of Route 6. Finally, we navigate the steep dunes of the Provincelands just a mile before the finish line. Before officially finishing in Provincetown, my teammates and I uphold a sacred tradition: we stop at Herring Cove Beach, raise plastic glasses filled with electrolyte-packed water, and share a "champagne" toast to celebrate our camaraderie and the successful completion of another PMC.

The Finish Line and Beyond
Re-entering the "real world" after the PMC is always a bit jarring. You immediately miss the constant cheers, the signs reading "I'm alive because of you," and the unparalleled display of human goodness. But while the ride ends in Provincetown, our mission continues.

Every sweaty mile, steep climb, and drop of rain endured is dedicated to raising critical, unrestricted funding for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Because 100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to the Jimmy Fund, your donations go as far as possible fuel the innovative research and life-saving care that is actively making cancer history.

As I continue to prepare to saddle up for my 23rd PMC, please consider making a cancer-fighting donation today. Together, we are getting closer by the mile.

Back in the Saddle - My 23rd PMC

First training ride of the season!

While the weather hasn’t been cooperating much lately (cold and rainy Memorial Day weekends are never fun!), we are solidly in Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) training season. My teammates and I did a training ride on Saturday before the rain hit. It was my first of many outdoor training rides to come this spring and summer. Getting ready to ride my 23rd PMC takes effort, and I look forward to putting in the work this year. 

23 isn’t a particularly remarkable milestone year, but there are some significances about this year’s ride that I should highlight. 

Maggie having fun at Dana-Farber!

• Worcester Start. For the first time since 1981 (the year I was born), the PMC will not begin in Sturbridge. Last year, we said goodbye to the PMC’s longest-standing starting location, and this year we welcome the new starting location: the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. This shortens the Day 1 route by about 9 miles, but don’t worry, I have a plan to more than make up for that! 
• Half My Life. I’m 44. I rode my first PMC when I was 22 (ironically, while living in Worcester, which makes the new Worcester start that much more meaningful). Half my life - and my entire adult life - has involved me riding the PMC. It is as much a part of my identity as my career. And I have no plans to change that anytime soon. 
• Maggie. Team Kinetic Karma has a new Pedal Partner this year! Maggie is a vibrant six year old currently undergoing cancer treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Rocking her signature pink headband, she always makes a bee line to the resource room at the clinic to play with Dana-Farber staff and volunteers. I am excited to meet her this summer on a team training ride! 

One of the primary reasons I keep coming back to ride the PMC is the huge impact it has on life-saving cancer discoveries. Last year, the PMC raised $78 million that directly went to fund an amazing array of investments in a cancer-free future. Notably, $10.6 million went to fight pediatric cancers. Pediatric cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children in the United States. At the same time, its rarity in comparison to adult cancer has discouraged industry investment in the development of new treatments. As Dana-Farber’s top supporter of pediatric oncology, the PMC has played a paramount role in filling this critical funding gap. Children like Maggie and all of our past Pedal Partners have and will benefit from your support of the PMC and Dana-Farber. 

Ready to ride year 23!

The other $67.2 million went to other extremely worthwhile investments in the fight against cancer - hematologic oncology, gastrointestinal oncology, radiation oncology, and neuro-oncology to name a few. Additionally, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is investing in its labs, patient care facilities, and its people to continue to grow and improve how it conducts research and delivers compassionate care to its over 100,000 patients annually. 

You, my donors, are a huge part of these advancements and investments. And due to the efficiency of the PMC (100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to the Jimmy Fund, the fundraising arm of Dana-Farber), you can be sure that your hard-earned dollars are going as far as possible toward the fight against cancer. 

My fundraising goal this year is $20,000. Ambitious? Yes. But the unrestricted funding that the PMC raises through your donations enables Dana-Farber scientists to achieve their many breakthroughs. This is why I ride, year after year, and ask you to make your generous contributions. Together, we are making cancer HISTORY. 

Please make your cancer-fighting donation today. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

PMC 2025 Recap: Best Weather EVER!

Reentry into the real world after the Pan-Mass Challenge is always jarring. Where are the volunteers at every turn offering me water? Why aren't there throngs of people on the subway platforms telling me "you can do it!"? WHERE ARE THE FLUFFERNUTTERS?!?! I say it every year, but every year it is the truth - the PMC is the best of humanity on display for an entire weekend.

Our "Last Ride from Sturbridge Tees

The 2025 PMC was special in many ways, but especially due to the weather. Often, we have hot, steamy weather for the PMC, as it is always the first weekend in August. We've also had rain - pouring, sheets of rain, most notably in 2014 and 2018. This year, it was cool in the mornings and sunny and warm (but not hot or humid) during the days - perfection! It made for an extremely pleasant ride!

Ok, now let's get to the recap. On the day before the ride, my fellow riders and I headed to Sturbridge to register, eat the carbo-load dinner, and prepare our bikes and bodies for the two-day ride. We woke dark and early on Saturday, threw our luggage on trucks, and readied to depart. We rode into the beautiful sunrise east toward Bourne. I savored every moment of this first leg of the ride, as it would be our last. In 2026, the Sturbridge starting location, which has been the classic starting location for the ride since its second year in 1981, will shift to Worcester. This is a bittersweet change - it will allow for more growth of the ride (which will mean more money for cancer research!), but it also means we will miss some of the most fun miles of the route. The PMC did a great job of making Sturbridge feel extra special this final year. During the first few minutes of the ride, I heard a spectator say calmly and quietly, "thanks for the memories." I still get emotional thinking about it. The PMC is more than a ride, more than an experience for the riders and others directly involved. It's impacted individuals and communities far and wide.

Feeling Great After Day 1!

The rest of the day's ride was filled with familiar experiences - a toast to Danno, our fallen teammate near his house, the point where the routes from Sturbridge and Wellesley (the other Day 1 starting location) merge (where you first take in the huge scale of this event!), and the first view of the Bourne Bridge, which we will ascend the next morning. Given the gorgeous weather, it was a pleasant ride, and it made for an even nicer post-ride experience. Energy levels were high and everyone had a great time celebrating the day at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. So much great food, music, massages, and comfortable places to relax! 

The next morning (is it morning if there isn't even a hint that the sun exists?!), we all readied for the second and final leg of the ride. Day 2 flies by given the shorter distance than Day 1, but also because it has so many different types of terrain to experience - ascending the massive hill that is the Bourne Bridge, riding along the Cape Cod Canal at sunrise, the roller coaster that is Service Road, riding through quaint villages in Barnstable and Yarmouth, riding through the woods on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, and riding the dunes of the Outer Cape. It is a FUN ride, and this year was no different.

Team Kinetic Karma at the Finish Line!

On both days, thousands of people line the streets to cheer us on. Some display PMC rider jerseys and volunteer tee shirts from years past, others quietly sip coffee in their robes with a smile. Some offer water and snacks, and kids stick out their hands for high fives. The creative and heartfelt signs are extra meaningful for me. "Dana-Farber saved my life because of you." "I'm 12 because of you." "Cheer if you're not wearing underwear." (Ok, they're not all heartfelt!)

I definitely feel the love on PMC weekend. But thanks to my generous donors, I feel the love with every donation. As I'm sure you know, 100% of rider-raised donations go directly to support the innovative research and compassionate care that Dana-Farber delivers every single day, making a huge difference in the global fight against cancer, as well as reducing the impact that cancer has on individuals and families. I feel strongly that donating to the PMC is the best way to join the fight against cancer. Please consider making your cancer-fighting donation today. Thank you!