Commit: You'll Figure It Out

The 2012 Pan Mass Challenge starts tomorrow at 7 am.

This evening I registered for my 15th Pan Mass Challenge. At registration I picked up my jersey, name tags and the usual goodies -- water bottle, cycling socks, etc.

I have prepared less for this ride than for previous rides. Life just seems to get in the way. The bike is dirty, the lawn could use a trim, the cars need washing. Blah, Blah, Blah...


I have a commitment. To ride the PMC strongly, to raise the money that will help eradicate cancer. So I register. It's a formality. I'm riding whether or not I have a name tag. They couldn't keep me off the roads.

But here's the thing.

My son has wanted to ride the PMC for a number of years. For a 22 year old, the thought of raising at least $4,300, the minimum to participate in the two day ride, is pretty daunting. So far, he's sat on the sidelines.

This year it's different. My wife is helping a friend through the first stages of treatment and he's taking it all in.
Then at registration we run across a PMC t-shirt with the slogan "Commit: You'll Figure It Out."

Now he's onboard. He's made the commitment to ride next year, to raise the money, to ride the 192 miles (yes, we'll probably ride the traditional route for his first time), to do whatever it takes.

Here's a link to a PMC video that provides some context to "Commit."

http://vimeo.com/29656748

Please join me in this fight. Together we win.

Donate $50, $100, $200 or more to the Dana Farber Institute, one of the premier cancer research organizations in the country. Fully 100% of all donations go directly to the Dana, to fund cancer research. If you have already donated, double the impact of your donation by filling out your company's Matching Gift form and send it in on Monday.

The ride starts in a few hours and I need your help to make this a successful event. Together we can make a difference.

To donate, please visit:

http://www.pmc.org/profile/LL0033


Thanks,


Lee

Three Helpings of Broccoli and 192 Miles

At my college reunion this weekend, I attended a talk entitled "Preventing Cancer." The presenter, a fellow Colgate alumni, went into great detail on the causes of cancer and the various tactics to keep it at bay. I'll save you from the technical details.

In summary, to prevent cancer, you can ride 192 miles every August and raise money for the Dana Farber Institute, as I do. This year will be my fifteenth year riding in the Pan Mass Challenge, cycling from Sturbridge to Provincetown over two days and raising $35 million for cancer research. This year I have personally committed to raising more than $6,000, and have set a personal best goal of raising $10,000.

Or, you can donate money on behalf of someone who does the ride...and eat three helpings of broccoli every week.

It's quite surprising how much of an impact diet, exercise and mental well-being can have on overall health. I'm now in the middle of "The China Study," a book that summarizes extensive, multiyear studies of the effect of diet on health, and the findings are pretty astonishing. This research strongly suggests that plant-based diets significantly reduce the likelihood of many illnesses and diseases.

But I'm not suggesting that you go this far. Why don't you start with three helpings of broccoli each week? Steamed, sauted, raw, however you like it (just not microwaved). Note -- other vegetables have similar positive effects!

And donate $50, $100 or $200 to the Dana Farber Institute, one of the premier cancer research organizations in the country. Fully 100% of all donations go directly to the Dana, to fund cancer research. And that research is desperately needed...while eating broccoli may be helpful, we still don't know the causes and cures of many types of cancers.

I'm now in training for the 192 mile ride...and need your help in making this a successful event. Together we can make a difference.

To donate, please visit:

https://www.pmc.org/egifts/MakeADonation.asp?eGiftID=LL0033

And eat your broccoli!

Thanks,

Lee