Lessons From the 2018 Pan Mass Challenge

While it seems so long ago now, only 8 weeks ago I set out on my 21st Pan Mass Challenge. The weekend was fabulous, as always, with a bit of rain Saturday morning and gorgeous weather on Sunday. And the PMC delivered yet another powerful lesson.

On Sunday I was riding in a team paceline. We were hammering. Then Mike's son Alex suddenly dropped off the back. I stopped to see if he needed mechanical assistance; he didn't...he was taking a bio break.

As I got ready to catch the team, some other friends rode by...and then, at the same time, a couple standing by the side of the road asked for assistance. First year riders, they were in the middle of fixing a flat and didn't know how to operate the C02 cartridge to inflate the tire. 

I was torn...do I jump back on with my friends, catch up with my team and continue hammering? Or do I stop, lose the momentum and help out the riders. It took only a split second to consider...and there it was. 

These people needed help and I had both the tools and expertise to help. I could either stay wrapped up in my hammerfest or I could be of service to others. And there was the lesson - look for opportunities to be of service to others...and when the opportunities show up, be present.

Ten minutes later the couple was on their way. I had made some new friends and felt good about my choice. I would catch my teammates later.

You can view a video summary of the weekend here.
 
Thank you for your support!

With love,


Lee

To make a donation, please visit http://www2.pmc.org/profile/LL0033 . All donations are 100% tax deductible and 100% of all donated funds go directly to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Thank You!

People occasionally comment that raising money for the PMC must be difficult. They say “I’d like to do the ride but I can’t imagine raising the money.”

In my first year, I was concerned about raising the money too. At that time, the annual commitment was $1200, and I wasn’t sure that I could do it. Riding the 192 miles was pretty straightforward; finding enough people to donate a collective $1200 seemed daunting.

A good friend of mine gave me some sage advice, saying: “Tell people why you’re doing the ride and ask them to support the cause.” So I did, and 21 years later, I’m still doing it.

What I’ve learned over the years is to be authentic, to share why I’m doing the ride, where the money goes, and importantly, that people are generous.

I learned that I’m not asking people for money; I’m enrolling them in the support of an important cause, offering them an opportunity to engage in something big. Sponsors have come and gone. Some have become riders, some have shifted their donations to other riders…which is great…I don’t care how the money gets to the Dana Farber, only that it does. Others have changed their priorities and now support other charities…it’s all good.

So…for those of you who would like to ride but can’t imagine raising the money...you might be surprised. Or you’d like to ride but don’t think you could complete the distance…you might be surprised! If you want to participate, there’s always a need for more volunteers; the PMC is a large, complex operation and it counts on thousands of volunteers to ensure that it runs smoothly.

In my second year of organizing and running a PMC Kid’s Ride in Sandwich, we’re seeing youngsters learning the same lessons. They’re taking on commitments that they hadn’t thought possible, they’re doing things for others, they’re seeing scores of adults cheering for them as they complete their ride. What a wonderful experience for everyone!

This year’s PMC is only a couple of weeks away, and as always, I appreciate your support.

With love,

Lee

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