About

I created this blog to track my progess leading up to (and maybe beyond) the 2009 Pan Mass Challenge. This is going to be a place where friends, family and sponsors can see the progress I am making towards my contribution goals as well as my training goals.

For those who don’t know, the Pan Mass Challenge is a bike-a-thon that raises money for the Jimmy Fund. It is responsible for half of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue and is Dana Farber’s biggest contributor. Last year the PMC raised $30 million. The ride I have chosen to participate in is a 190 mile route from Sturbridge to Provincetown. This is a 2 day route that will take place on August 7th and 8th.

This will be my second year riding for the PMC. My wife and I just recently found out we are having a baby so I got signed up a little later than I did last year. Last year, I signed up for the PMC to challenge myself physically, mentally and financially. I knew it was a big commitment in both mileage and dollars raised. But after finding out about all the inspiring stories behind the PMC I took the plunge and started training. The 2009 PMC was one the most inspiring events I’ve ever had the chance to be a part of.

Since the 2009 PMC, I have been given another reason to ride and raise money for this cause. Shortly after the ride, I found out that my grandfather had cancer. I was at the hospital the day my grandfather was diagnosed. It was quite a surreal experience for me. It had never really got this close to me but it made me look back to the PMC I had just been a part of. When I signed up, I couldn’t really figure out why I was pushing myself so much to make the riding and fundraising commitment to the PMC but now I am glad that I was able to do my part in helping raise money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute which is where my grandfather received his treatment. The last we heard, his cancer is in remission and he is doing better thanks to the people at Dana-Farber.

This year I would like to show my gratitude by participating in the PMC again and raising money for this wonderful cause. I am encouraging you to offer your invaluable support to the Dana-Farber Cancer Research Center because we have all been touched by this disease in some way.  We have all heard the stories where someone has survived their battle to fight another day as well as the stories of the surviving family members and loved ones of those friends who were not so fortunate.  Those stories live on through us because of us.  Help me fight this battle.  In riding the PMC, I WILL ride the 200 miles.  I WILL cross that finish line.  But-crossing that finish line can only bring us half way there.  The other half needs to come from you.  Your support and donations will help to bring us all one step closer to crossing that finish line together towards finding a cure.