Heavy Hitter Dinner

A few weeks ago, I attended the 2011 PMC Heavy Hitter Dinner and had the honor of hearing the mother and father of a young family share the story about their son, Brent. In September 2004, one month after I embarked on my first Pan-Mass Challenge, Brent, then two-and-a-half, was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer. His mother described the initial days of Brent’s illness, diagnosis and treatment. Amid the countless difficulties, she talked about how the disease made clear what really mattered in life and what didn’t. She also conveyed how, among the many horrible times, fighting a disease like this as a family, as a team, and as a community also has so many positive and even fun moments. Brent's father spoke of how he began riding the PMC in 2005 in Brent's honor, without much training due to the care for Brent's disease usurping much of his time. He formed Team Brentwheels which, since 2005, has raised over $2,000,000 for research that will one day unlock a cure for neuroblastoma.

Dr. Lisa Diller, the Clinical Director of Pediatric Oncology at Dana-Farber, spoke next. She said that when she started her career at Dana-Farber in the 1980s, she only had two long-term neuroblastoma survivors, one of whom subsequently relapsed. While she characterized advances in the treatment of neuroblastoma over the past few decades as crude, the survival prognosis for this particular cancer, which primarily strikes young children, had improved to ten percent a decade ago, and is now at almost 30 percent. Dr. Diller described one of the most fulfilling nights of her life which took place recently – a meeting of about a dozen adolescent neuroblastoma survivors who have been her patients over the years.

Dr. Diller mentioned that one of the newer therapies they’re applying uses an agent that targets neuroblastoma cells linked with a radioactive element, which delivers destructive radiation just to neuroblastoma cells with as little damage as possible to the patient’s normal cells. A key element of this treatment is the construction of a lead-lined room, in which the treatment can be administered to contain radiation exposure for everyone else. Such facilities are extremely expensive, but in this case it was made possible by the funding raised by Team Brentwheels, making Dana-Farber one of only eight such centers in the country that uses this new treatment technique.

At the end of the program, much to my relief, and the relief of the 600 others at the event that night, at the end of the speech, Brent, now nine years old and cancer-free, stood up and the room erupted in a standing ovation. This story has a happy ending. Brent, now nine, is LIVING PROOF that the work that the doctors, nurses, staff, and researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are doing is making a difference in the world. Their work is funded by donations from people like you, hundreds of thousands of people who want to make cancer HISTORY.

Please consider making a donation to support my Pan-Mass Challenge ride. 100% percent of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber's fundraising arm. You can rest assured that your hard-earned dollars are going as far as possible to cure cancers like neuroblastoma. Please support this amazing cause that is showing REAL results in the lives of kids like Brent.

Let the Training Begin!

It's mid-spring in Boston (even though it doesn't feel like it) so it's time to start training for the Pan-Mass Challenge! After working two jobs (I'm back down to one now) and moving into a new house (hooray!), I was finally able to get out for my first ride of the season on the last day of April. It was a relatively easy ride on familiar pavement, just to remind my body what it feels like to sit on a bike seat for a few hours. Much like living near the ocean, if I didn't live near such a world-class rail trail as the Minuteman Bikeway, life would a lot less pleasant.

The following week I revisited another familiar route that traverses the western suburbs of Boston, including Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Natick, and Dover. The rain-swollen Charles River was a sight to see! My average speed is starting to creep up as I put in the miles, but the rides I do early in the season are meant to focus on adding mileage, not perfecting pace. It was a fantastic day, albeit chilly - I even got a tan!

Yesterday I got out for another familiar, though shortened, route through Boston's northern suburbs with a jaunt through Harold Parker State Forest. It didn't look like it was going to be a great day for a ride, and I was reluctant to head out. Memories of my grandmother flooded my head, as did visions of Charlotte, Team Kinetic Karma's pedal partner, and thoughts of a few friends who are engaged in their own battles with cancer. I donned my spandex uniform, clipped in, and rode on.

Cancer motivates me to ride, even on the gloomiest of days, in the hopes that I help make others' days a little less gloomy. Cancer needs to end, and I'm doing everything in my power to stop it. Won't you join me? Visit my PMC fundraising page for more info about my ride and to make a donation. Your donations are saving lives. Period.

The Start of a New Year

Happy Spring! On gorgeous days like today, all I want to do is saddle up and ride off along the quiet roads of New England. The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is exactly three months away, and I'll be spending that time striving to reach my training and fundraising goals for this, my 8th ride. I'll ride nearly 1,500 miles to prepare for the cross-state trek and raise $7,000 for the fight against cancer. I hope you'll join me as a donor, supporter, volunteer, or rider!

As I have done for the past few years, I'll be posting to my blog regularly with training and fundraising updates, in addition to providing more information about the PMC, the incredible research and compassionate cancer care that the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute conducts, and my personal connections to the disease. Please leave your comments, and be sure to let me know if you would like me to ride in honor or memory of a friend or loved one.

I'm looking forward to this journey, and let me take you along for the ride! If you'd like to show your support now and be among my first donors, please visit my fundraising page and make a secure online donation today!

Jared

$33,000,000!

Yep, that's me, holding probably the largest (in terms of physical size and amount) check I'll ever hold inside America's most beloved ballpark. Last Friday, the Pan-Mass Challenge announced that this year's ride raised $33 million for the fight against cancer, exceeding the goal by a cool two million dollars. Since 1980, the annual ride has raised $303 million for the Jimmy Fund - just incredible! Heather and I celebrated with 500 other members of the PMC family inside Fenway, and I was once again inspired by everything that the PMC is and does.
I have to give a huge thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU to all of my supporters and donors. I am so lucky to be able to participate in this amazing event, and you help me do that every year. Thanks to you, I became a PMC Heavy Hitter by raising over $6,300 and was rewarded with a pair of limited-edition PMC Heavy Hitter shoes, courtesy of New Balance, a major sponsor of the PMC. I wore my new sneakers proudly to the check presentation ceremony, as did many of my fellow riders.
For more information about this year's donation, check out the PMC blog. And it's not too early to start thinking about next year's PMC on August 6th and 7th. Please consider joining us as a rider, volunteer, or supporter. We really are getting closer by the mile, thanks in part to you.

Another PMC Weekend in the Books!

I'm back home from yet another amazing PMC weekend! Even though I extended the weekend by riding from the New York border to Sturbridge (making it a full Pan-MASS Challenge), the weekend went by too fast! Here's a day-by-day recap of the event.
Day 0 - Hillsdale, NY to Sturbridge

My teammates (Dave, Lance, Kevin, and Chris) and I awoke at 5:45 AM (that's sleeping in on PMC weekend) on Friday to prepare for our trek through the Berkshires. We met up with 23 other riders at the New York/Massachusetts border at 7:00 AM and we hit the road at 7:30. If you look at the trip profile, you can see that the first 35 miles or so are incredibly hilly - we went from an elevation of 700 to 1,600 over 25 miles before descending from 1,400 feet of elevation to 200 feet over five miles. Boy was that descent a rush!
Once we entered the Pioneer Valley, we were given a police escort to enhance our safety as we traveled through the Springfield area. We whizzed through Westfield, West Springfield, Springfield, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham, and Palmer thanks to the police in each of those towns. What great support!
The ride leaders organized several rest stops stocked with water and snacks. In East Longmeadow, just over 60 miles into the day, the lunch stop was filled with supporters of Brielle's Brigade, one of the teams we rode with. It was a great preview of the PMC!
We finished the day around 4 PM as we rode together to the Sturbridge Host Hotel, where the PMC officially begins. I grabbed my luggage, checked into my hotel room, registered for my 7th PMC, and met up with my teammates for the traditional carbo-load dinner provided for us. Following dinner, I attended the PMC Opening Ceremonies - check out some of the highlights on NECN!
Day 1 - Sturbridge to Bourne

Day 1 is an early one - I awoke at 3:45 AM in order to be dressed, fed, and in line to start the ride at 5:30 AM sharp. Though the sky was dark when I arrived at the start line, everyone was beaming with excitement to begin the ride. Our brightly colored jerseys seemed to light up the place. As the national anthem was sung, my heart raced in anticipation. We're off!
For the first few miles, we rode on Route 20, which at this location is a multi-lane divided highway. It gives us plenty of space to go at our own speed and to spin our legs to warm up for the impending hills. After turning onto Route 31 we hit our first hill - a doozie! They don't call it the Pan-Mass CHALLENGE for nothing! I met up with my friend Kim (see photo), who was volunteering at the first rest stop. Thanks for volunteering, Kim!
There are many special moments on Day 1 - riding through the party atmosphere of Cherry Street in Wrentham, arriving at the lunch stop at mile 69 to see ALL the riders (this is where the riders that started in Wellesley join the traditional route), seeing the smiling faces of all the pedal partners in Lakeville, and seeing the Bourne Bridge, indicating that the day is almost done! This year's most special moment occurred at the finish line of Day 1. With 15 miles left to go on Day 1, a fellow rider, Joanna, joined our paceline and rode with us to Bourne. She told us that she was riding with her two sisters in honor of their father, who battled cancer for seven months before passing away this past June. As we crossed the Day 1 finish line, she burst into tears, completely overwhelmed by emotion. We hugged her and told her that her father was proud of her. These emotional scenes are very common on PMC weekend.
At 109.4 miles, Day 1 is certainly a challenge for any rider. It was especially challenging for me this year because of my Day 0 ride, but also because I tried to keep up with the fastest members of my team. Though I lagged behind on some hills, I finished the day strong, averaging 18.1 mph, a personal record. We arrived at the Mass Maritime Academy (the overnight stop) at 1:50 PM, another personal record. I parked my bike, signed up for a massage, showered, and grabbed a beer - time to relax!
After six years of suffering in the heat of the dorms, I chose to bunk on the MMA's air conditioned training ship this year. Doing so required a trade-off, however - to gain air conditioning, I had to give up all my personal space! I was assigned a bunk (one of three in a stack) in a room of 60 bunks! However, when it was time to sleep (8:15 PM!) I was comfortable. Those earplugs sure did come in handy! I needed all the rest I could get for Day 2.
Day 2 - Bourne to Provincetown

Day 2 is another early day - I was up at 4:15 AM to get ready and meet my team for breakfast. On Day 1, all riders wear the official PMC jersey for that year, but on Day 2, riders are encouraged to wear jerseys that identify their team or who they ride for. My team, Team Kinetic Karma, wore our bright yellow and blue jerseys and shorts. This makes it a lot easier to identify each other on the road!
We took off from the MMA at 5:45 AM and climbed up and over the Bourne Bridge. Despite the early hour, there are always spectators there to cheer us on! We watched the sun rise over the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges as we traveled along the Cape Cod Canal Bike Path - beautiful!
Day 2 is filled with milestones that make the day go by so quickly - flying up and down the rolling hills on Service Road, traveling past the quaint inns and restaurants along 6A, and riding by Da Hedge, a quarter mile of hundreds of pre-teen campers shortly before the second rest stop. Cape Codders love the PMC, and we love them back!
The second water stop on Day 2 is always a special one. The volunteers always give the stop a tropical theme, the tunes blast from the sound system, and riders smile, knowing they're halfway to P-town. Jack makes it special too - every year he stands with his sign "I'm (age) thanks to you!". He's become the most famous PMC supporter in his 12 years of posing with his sign - he's 14 now! Next year, when he turns 15, he'll be riding the PMC among the rest of us! I hope he still brings his sign.

The toughest stretch of Day 2's ride occurs in the last leg of the day - Wellfleet to P-town. Besides being tired from already having ridden 170 miles (or 260 in my case!), the hills in Truro and the Provincelands do an number on your quads and your mind. You feel so close, yet gravity holds you back on those hill climbs. Finally, the Pilgrim Monument comes into view and you know you're close. Just before the finish line, my team stopped to take a photo. We packed plastic champagne glasses in our pockets and toasted to yet another fantastic PMC ride! And no, that's not actually champagne in our glasses - it's Gatorade! We crossed the finish line at 12 noon - another successful PMC weekend completed! Oh, and that's Joanna from Day 1 kneeling next to me - I think we have a new teammate!
This year's PMC went so well - the weather was near-perfect (it could have been a little warmer on Saturday morning, and the winds were a bit much on the Outer Cape, but who's complaining?). My teammates made the ride challenging and fun. The volunteers made everything easier thanks to fluffernutters, peanut butter bananas, and their positive attitudes! The supporters along the route inspired us all to push a little harder, reminding us of why we ride. I already can't wait for next year!
Billy Starr, founder of the PMC, announced that, as of Friday, riders had raised $21 million toward our $31 million goal. There is still plenty of time to make your donation. I am only $450 away from achieving my fundraising goal of $6,300. 100% of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of innovative cancer research that will one day eradicate the disease.

Let this photo of my favorite sign from PMC weekend inspire you to make your donation today. Click here to become part of the solution and part of that "U"!

Here We Go...

Seven months of planning, five months and 1,200 miles of training, and four months of fundraising have finally led up to this moment. Today I will begin my extended Pan-Mass Challenge journey as I travel to Hillsdale, NY to prepare for my first of three days of riding. Here's a day-by-day preview of my weekend:
Day -1 (Thursday): My dad is picking me up at 3 PM and will drive me to the New York/Massachusetts border where I'll spend the night in a motel to prepare for tomorrow's ride. Before then, I need to finish packing and send out my last fundraising emails and Facebook messages. Busy day!
Day 0 (Friday): I'll be arising at 5:30 AM (that's sleeping in on PMC weekend!), gather my things, and proceed to the starting location of the ride, right on the state border. After a few ceremonial photos, we'll roll off on our way to Sturbridge at 7:30 AM. Along the way we'll be climbing some long and steep hills as we traverse the Berkshire mountains before descending into the Pioneer Valley (my homeland!). We'll be provided with a few rest stops, including a curiously located oasis at the Magic Lantern in Palmer (yes, THAT Magic Lantern). Finally, around 4 PM, we'll arrive in Sturbridge to start the official PMC experience.
Day 1 (Saturday): I'll awaken much earlier on Saturday, probably around 3:45 AM (the ride begins at 5:30!). I'm so excited about all the milestones I now know to anticipate - seeing my friend Kim at her volunteer post in Whitinsville, being greeted by the puffy ladies at the Franklin water stop, seeing the Over the Hill Cheerleaders, riding down Cherry Street, seeing Charlotte at the Pedal Partner water stop in Lakeville, and seeing the Bourne Bridge in the distance upon arriving at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to close the day. It'll be a 111-mile day but I'm sure I'll end it with a huge smile on my face.
Day 2 (Sunday): Sunday is another early day - my teammates and I are planning to hit the road at 5:30 AM again. There are more milestones on Day 2: climbing the steeper-than-you-think Bourne Bridge at sunrise, speeding along the Cape Cod Canal bike path, riding the roller coaster that is Service Road, Da Hedge, seeing Jack (He'll be holding a sign saying "I'm 14 thanks to you") at Nickerson State Park, taking in the ocean views on Ocean View Drive, seeing the Over the Hill Cheerleaders (yes, again!), and climbing the dunes in Provincetown before arriving at the finish line.
This may seem like a lot, but trust me, it all goes by in a flash. It takes a lot of concentration just to be able to take it all in. I'll be updating Facebook throughout the ride so that you can get a better sense of what the PMC is all about. So stay tuned!
I am so close to reaching my fundraising goal, but I still need your help to put me over the edge. I hope to raise $900 more dollars in order to meet my $6,300 fundraising goal. Perhaps you've been inspired by my commitment to the ride, or Charlotte's brave fight against her childhood leukemia, or your own personal experiences with cancer in yourself or a loved one. Your donation will send a strong message that you believe in a cancer-free future. 100 percent of your donation will go directly to the Jimmy Fund in support of innovative cancer research and compassionate patient care at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, one of the world's leading cancer centers. Now is the time - click here to make your donation today.
Thank you,
Jared

We Ride For...

Nearly everyone has been touched by cancer personally - you may have a friend or loved one that has battled the disease, or you may have battled it yourself. The strength and courage exhibited by those cancer afflicts, whether or not they are successful at fighting off the disease, inspires us to do something - give platelets, volunteer our time, open our wallets, and, in my (and 5,200 other people's) case, ride a bicycle across Massachusetts.
I ride for my own reasons, but for yours as well. Last year, PMC organizers began a new tradition at the overnight stop between the two riding days in Bourne. They made huge "We Ride For..." banners for riders to write the names of those who have inspired them to ride and those who have inspired their supporters to make donations to advance cancer research to one day make cancer history. These banners then fly high over the finish line, reminding us all why we do what we do. Last year, I wrote the name Emily Brooks, my grandmother who died while undergoing her battle with cancer twelve years ago. This year, I'll write her name again, not just for me, but for my mom and her six siblings who lost their mother to cancer and for my grandfather who lost his wife, companion, and friend.
I'd like to write the names of everyone that inspires YOU to support this worthy cause. Is there someone that you would like for me to ride in honor or in memory of? Leave a comment and send me an email with their name(s) by Thursday at noon, and I'll bring the list to Bourne to write them all, to tell the world who "We Ride For."