About My Heroes

This year’s Pan Mass Challenge, my 20th, was quite special. I had the honor and privilege to ride with two first year riders, son and daughter of a riding buddy who lost his battle to cancer ten years ago. Now they’re both old enough to ride the PMC.

In typical PMC form (Commit: You’ll Figure It Out), at the pre-event dinner last year, she made the commitment. "I’d like to ride the PMC." She hadn’t ridden a bike in years, she didn’t even own a bike, she didn’t really know what she was committing to. But she knew that she wanted to do it. So, still a teenager, she committed to riding the Pan Mass Challenge and to raising $4800 for cancer research.

And her commitment drew her older brother along. He committed to riding the PMC as well. No family discounts here…he also committed to raising $4800.

We pulled their father's bikes out of storage and had them refurbished. They trained through the spring and early summer and started their fundraising.

Then Saturday morning rolled around. She hadn’t ridden further than 20 miles on the road; he had some miles under his belt. Just enough to know what he didn’t know…

Saturday morning. 6:15. 85 miles. Unknown.

These two young adults taped photos of themselves with their father on their handlebars, hugged and kissed their mom, and hit the road.

I had not ridden with them before and didn’t really know what to expect.

We started off at a nice easy pace, covering the familiar roads of Needham and Dover. We had started early, so for a while we had the roads to ourselves. Survivors and supporters were just starting to set up their chairs and signs along the route.

Then, the first fast cyclists from Wellesley caught up with us. We lost a chain, stopped to fix it, and continued on.

These two young adults, my heroes for the weekend, just kept pedaling along. They took it all in…the supporters shouting encouragement, the cowbells, the pedal partner posters, the excitement.

The hills, the rain, the wind.

I rode every mile of the first day with them, intent on getting them across the finish line in Bourne safe and sound. And we crossed the finish line together early Saturday afternoon.

The second day was a near mirror of the first…except that we started with sore legs. They had a better understanding of what they needed to do…except that every mile was new to them. No worries...they hugged and kissed their mom and rolled out of the driveway, photos taped to their handlebars, intent on making the finish line.

Day Two of the Pan Mass Challenge always holds a surprise or two. No, the Cape is not flat. Yes, there’s traffic. Sometimes more experienced riders crowd newbies a bit. Occasionally it’s incredibly windy on Route 6.

Route 6, heading into Provincetown

My two heroes just kept turning the pedals, occasionally glancing at the pictures taped to their handlebars for inspiration. We rode through a number of towns on Route 6A, past a summer camp that turns out in force to cheer (Da Hedge!), along the bike path and into the hills of Wellfleet and Truro. No, the Cape is not flat! And sometimes it is very windy.

Did I mention the headwind?

When we crossed the finish line together in Provincetown just before noon on Sunday, it was a magical moment. Their mom was waiting for them, arms outstretched, so proud of what my two heroes accomplished. So much of their father in them. Continuing his legacy. So much inspiration for others.

We would appreciate your support of the PMC, of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and the important work being conducted.

Will you make a donation today?

With love,

Lee

To make a donation, please visit http://www2.pmc.org/profile/LL0033 . 100% of your donation goes directly to the Dana Farber. All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Why I Ride

In three weeks I'll embark on my 20th Pan Mass Challenge, riding 192 miles and raising money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Twenty years ago, just a few miles into my first Pan Mass Challenge, in the hills of western Massachusetts at 6 am, I passed an older couple sitting on their lawn in folding chairs. They were holding up signs that read "Thank You for Riding."

It took me a minute to figure out why they were thanking me…then it hit me. It was personal. The money raised by the PMC had a direct impact on their lives. Perhaps one of them, or someone they knew, had been treated at the Dana.

 

Right then, for me the event shifted from a bike ride to a cause.

Since then I’ve ridden almost 3,700 PMC miles, raising more than $120,000 for cancer research. 

Over the years I figure I’ve ridden past 20,000 signs saying "Thank You for Riding." And Amy, Jonathan and Rachel have all joined as volunteers along the way, with Jonathan also riding for a couple of years.

Last month I helped to organize and run the first PMC Sandwich Kids Ride, with more than 60 youngsters riding and raising $20,000. These kids learned the meaning of charity, giving and selflessness. And they had some fun!

In three weeks I’ll ride the PMC…because when I do, I make a difference in the lives of those affected by cancer. And I appreciate knowing that you’re supporting the PMC too!

Thank you for your support!

With love,

Lee

To donate, please visit http://www2.pmc.org/profile/LL0033 . All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Add 20?

Photo taken from press box at Fenway Park

On Saturday I joined several hundred other PMC riders, volunteers, and "Pedal Partners" for an event at Fenway Park. A Pedal Partner is a child undergoing treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Many of the PMC riding teams "adopt" a pedal partner as their mascot, and in many cases, meet their pedal partner at one of the rest stops during the ride.

I was at Fenway with Casey, our Pedal Partner for the PMC Sandwich Kids Ride. Yes, we're recruiting kids as young as 3 years old to help raise money to fight cancer...and last year, thirty Kids Rides raised almost $750,000.

Photo from 2016 PMC Kids Ride

I'm helping to organize the Sandwich Kids Ride, which will be held this coming Saturday, rain or shine (just like the big ride). And the 75 riders, ages 3-14, will ride a portion of the "big ride" route along the canal in Sandwich and Bourne. 

 

I've gotten to know Casey over the past couple of months. He's a hockey player, a baseball player, a bright young man who just happened to miss his entire eighth grade school year due to intensive treatments at the Dana Farber. I had the pleasure of touring Fenway Park with him and his mom.

Casey, and others like him, are a big part of the reason I have ridden the PMC for twenty years. In celebration of my twentieth ride, I'm asking supporters to add 20 to your donation.

• Add twenty percent to last year's donation amount.
• Add twenty dollars.
• Add twenty whatever...

And if you haven't donated to the PMC before, please...donate $20.

Photo from 2016 PMC Kids Ride

Or take twenty minutes of your time to sign up as a volunteer, to help ensure that the PMC runs smoothly this year, as it has done in years past.

Together we can help kids like Casey to have brighter futures, and for others to benefit from cures we can't even imagine today.

Thank you for your support!

With love,

Lee

To donate, please visit http://www2.pmc.org/profile/LL0033 . All donations are 100% tax deductible.

Thank You for Riding

Thank you for riding...

It's a phrase that I've heard over and over. Every time I hear it, I stop, I take it in, I consider the meaning and the story behind it. I am present to the joy and the pain and everything else that must be behind that statement for a cancer survivor.

It wrenches at my heart. It causes me to just be present and breath it in.

It creates a connection between the speaker and me.

I hate the statement. It reminds me of the pain and the work still to do in finding cures for the many different types of cancers.

I never know when it's going to happen. Sure, on the two days of the PMC ride, I'm going to see it on a lot of signs, and talk with more than a few survivors.

But at a CVS on a Wednesday afternoon? Talking with the pharmacist? Right out of the blue?

She saw my Pan Mass Challenge hat, asked if I had ridden the PMC...

Yes...this will be my twentieth year...

Thank you for riding...my daughter was in treatment, she was a pedal partner for one of the teams.

Pedal partners, young children in treatment, become team "mascots" for cycling teams who rally to raise lots of money. Pedal partners come to fundraising events and stops along the PMC route. I've talked with a few and have been surprised at how nonchalant they are about things. They just don't know any differently...

Breathe, Lee, breathe. Take it in, feel the connection, feel the energy, the raw emotion behind it all. This is why you continue to do the PMC...

Now her daughter is 23, a survivor, about to graduate with her masters degree. And maybe a volunteer to help put on the PMC Kid's Ride in Sandwich in a couple of months! Her opportunity to give back...

With love,

Lee

To donate, please visit http://www2.pmc.org/profile/LL0033. All donations are 100% tax deductible.