A few weeks ago, we told you that we would be participating in the 2008 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) as part of our efforts to capture the story of its founder, Billy Starr. Many of you have asked since then how it went, and I wanted to take a moment to share some of the personal reflections that I collected along the two day, 192-mile pedal from Sturbridge to Provincetown.
As Matt and I set off for the opening ceremonies on the eve of the ride, I was filled with anticipation and more than a little trepidation. Even after more than four months of dedicated training, I still didn’t know how I was going to fare over the next 48 hours, or how I was going to make it past the first fifty miles of hills. But, when we arrived at the Sturbridge Host Hotel, my focus quickly shifted away from the physical challenge that lay in front of me. The PMC’s opening ceremonies–presented to an emotionally charged, standing-room-only crowd in the hotel’s ballroom that evening–were a reminder of why the event is so much more than a test of physical endurance.
We met 15-year-old Andrew MacKinlay who has beaten Leukemia with the support of doctors at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. For each of the past 10 years, Andrew has waited at the finish line to congratulate his parents who rode the PMC in honor of their son and in support of the Dana Farber. This year, Andrew–now cancer free–wouldn’t be waiting at the finish line for his parents; he would be on the road in front of them. (Watch Andrew at the PMC kickoff)
We met Coby Brown, an emerging singer/songwriter who provided the soundtrack for the evening. Coby first learned about the PMC by watching a news story about the event from his hospital bed at the Dana Farber just one year ago. And, we met a new group of 32 cyclists joining the PMC this year–Team Trooper Tested from the Massachusetts State Police, whose inspiration to ride came from their fellow officer Tom Grenham’s daughter Shannon. Diagnosed with Leukemia two years ago, Shannon was treated successfully at the Dana Farber and is now in remission.
At 6:00 the next morning, over 8,000 riders, volunteers and staff formed a two-wheeled tidal wave that swept across the state. The group included participants from all over the country and all walks of life, and it was hard to tell us apart amidst the sea of identical jerseys and spandex shorts. Members of the Boston Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins, and Patriots, US Senator John Kerry (hear Kerry’s talk) and famed cyclist Greg LeMond rode alongside cancer survivors, and the majority of the rest of us with family members who have battled, or are battling cancer.
We all shared struggle and accomplishment, and overcame our physical exhaustion with the help of one another, the enthusiastic cheering of the supporters who lined every mile of the route, and plenty of snacks served by smiling volunteers at each water stop. However, our biggest motivation to keep going came from the confirmation that the money that we were raising through our ride was funding progress against the disease. Pictures of those undergoing treatment were pinned to jerseys and displayed on signs posted along the pavement. Children appeared with posters that read, “I’m 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and older thanks to you!” All of this created an atmosphere of good will that lasted the entire weekend, even through the driving rain that descended upon us Saturday night. The ice-cold beer at the finish line didn’t hurt either.
But it’s the money raised through the PMC that makes it the largest and most efficient athletic fundraiser in the country. This year’s goal is to present the Dana Farber Cancer Institute with $34 million. These funds will support ongoing research and treatment that will benefit 1.4 million Americans who will be diagnosed with cancer in the next year. In order to achieve this goal, the PMC requires each of its riders to raise a minimum of $4,000, and the event itself has acquired sponsorship that covers all of its operational costs.
As the fundraising deadline of October 1st draws near, Matt and I have just $1,000 left to raise toward our total commitment of $4,000. We each made our own personal contribution as we believe strongly in the mission of the PMC and feel honored to be a part of this year’s PMC family. We hope that you will consider joining us by making a donation to this year’s fundraising goal, and perhaps next year by signing up to ride as well. Each dollar donated goes directly to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Please click here to make a secure on-line donation.
After 29 years of growth and change, the PMC has become a compelling example of how a recreational event like a bike-ride can grow into a powerful force for social change; how Billy’s recruitment of 36 riders in 1980 has turned into thousands over the years, and how all of them have fueled the progress in cancer treatment that we all count on today. (Watch “Change,” a 2-minute video covering 29 years of the PMC)
We’re hard at work compiling, writing and cross-checking Billy’s story so we can share the motivations, decisions, struggles, and turning points that have shaped what the PMC has become today. We look forward to sharing it with you, along with the total amount raised by the PMC when it is unveiled at the check presentation to the Dana Farber later this fall.
Thank you for your generosity and your continued support!
Fondly,
Michelle
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