This weekend, I will be doing my 22th PMC!!! I can’t believe it! This was a milestone that I have been looking forward to. Today I am asking for your support to raise money for the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber. We start in Sturbridge on Saturday morning at 530am and roll into in P-Town between 10-11am Sunday.
For me, this is very personal. I was first diagnosed with cancer on May 11, 2002. NO matter how many years have passed, I remember that phone call like it was yesterday. It was one of those defining moments in my life. For me, I became the “person with cancer”. The first week in June 2003 (I do not remember the exact day) I walked out of Dana Farber and stopped on the sidewalk and realized that that my doctor just told me, “You’re all set, I don’t need to see you for 3 months”. At that moment, the movement street went silent, and I felt like I was watching a movie… For many years, I was able to say I have been cancer free the same number of years as the number of PMC’s I have done. Unfortunately, that is not the case anymore, but I WILL CELIBARATE THE ABILITY TO SAY:
This is my 22St PMC and still rolling
I learned that being a cancer survivor does not start when you finish treatment. It starts the day you find out you have cancer. Survive today, tomorrow, this week… Not everyone will have the ability to get back to living their life but that does not mean that they are not survivors. In fact, they are the greatest survivors of all, they lived their fight to the fullest and we have so much to learn from their strength and grace. When you meet the folks in your life who are fighting do not ask if they are OK. Give them a high five tell them “You got this; the next round is all you. You’re tougher than you know! I have learned so much from these folks and their stories of the last 21 years. I will always be grateful for the people I have met throughout my journey, and I hope that I can be a resource for the next person. It might just be a cup of coffee and a sounding board from someone who has been in their seat. (Or just maybe someone can vent too because they are angry that it’s happened them them)
We are lucky to live in the Boston area to have Dana Farber and the supporting hospitals (MGH, Brigham and Children’s). We can get the best medical treatments right here. I am so grateful that the DFCI has made so many advancements, and they are here to help all of us when we need it the most. Over the past few years, I have seen the expansion of the Dana Farber satellite treatment locations making it more convenient for patients to get their treatments.
I am immensely proud to tell you that 100% of your donations go directly to the Jimmy fund. We (the PMC) raise over 50% of all the money for the Jimmy fund each year. This is the largest and most successful fundraiser in the country. Together we can help to continue the research and programs for these kids and families with your support.
If you would like to honor someone special to you, please send me their name so I can add it to the back of my shirt during my PMC ride. It is an honor to be able to do this each year. I will continue to do all the training and ask for your support so I can continue to pay it forward to people who need all of our help. We are all in this fight together, we can’t do it alone.
If you would like to send a check, please make the checks out to the Bruins Foundation and you can send them to me at my address: 3 Pine Acres Rd, Foxboro MA 02035
Thank you. I truly appreciate your support beyond words!
Chris
Sturbridge- P-Town = – 192 Miles X 22 = 4,180 PMC Miles with the best road crew in town!!!!!
