Prepping for the PMC

It's late May and I'm late to prepping for the PMC. A week ago my bike and I got reacquainted. I left the car at home 4 of 5 days last week and rode the bike to work. Sunday I did a hard ride in the hills of the Berkshires, about 30 miles. Earlier today I did another ride, finding one killer incline that really pushed me to my limit.

With this blog I intend to capture the both the thoughts, feelings and the physical preparation that make the PMC so special. I've pushed some of this out in email in the past; I figured that this would be a great way for me to become more involved in the web 2.0 phenomenom, withouth taking up too much space in my supporters' email boxes.

So what's going on?

Last time I thought about writing, cancer had just hit the news. Elizabeth Edwards annouced that her cancer was back and that her husband John would continue with his run for the presidency.

Shortly therafter, Tony Snow, White House press relations, also announced the return of his cancer.

Public people in the public spotlight, dealing with a very private issue.

I was torn. These are private matters that have no business in the public spotlight. Or these are political people maximizing the value of the cards that have been dealt them. I don't know.

I do know that cancer research funding did not rise from last year to this. I do know that clinical trials are at risk for lack of funding.

I do know how it made me feel to see my father-in-law, along with a dear friend of his, lead the survivor's lap at a recent Relay for Life event. I do know how I felt when I saw my father's name listed in the presentation as a cancer survivor.

I do know how I felt when I saw friends' names on luminaria bags at this Relay for Life, friends that were my age and had passe away. And how it felt to see my father's name, and my father-in-law's name, and his friend's name, on other luminaria bags, signifying hope that others could also beat cancer.

So I ride. And I raise money. And I pester people for donations to the PMC, to the Jimmy Fund, my one big cause. This year I've set out to raise $10,000. And to bring 20 new people into the fold, as sponsors or riders or volunteers.

As of right now, I've raised just about $1200. And it will be a headlong rush between the end of May and the end of July to get my body ready for the 192 miles and the $10,000 raised so that I can say this year, again, I've done my little part in the fight against cancer.

Enough for now.

To donate, please visit:

http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=LL0033

And please do leave your comments after reading.

Thanks,

Lee