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It is TRUE! He's cycling in the 2014 Pan Mass Challenge!
Also true; he would have likely been faster on his bicycle at Thompson than he was in his car.
To my COM family & friends,
At the start of this year, I made a commitment to ride in the 2014 Pan Mass Challenge. Over the past seven months, I have trained hard and done my best to prepare, yet my journey is just about to begin. The ride is just a few days away! My 2-day, 182-mile ride, begins Saturday morning and stretches from Wellesley to the tip of Cape Cod - Provincetown, Massachusetts.
The Pan Mass Challenge is a charity bike ride for the benefit of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute / Jimmy Fund. Last year, it's 34th annual event, featured 5,500 cyclists who raised $39M. That accounted for 60% of the Jimmy Fund's total annual revenue! As of today, the 2014 fund has raised $23M of its $40M goal.
Many of you have asked me how to donate and support this worthy cause. I have waited until today to send out this information, as I wanted to be certain, or as certain as possible, that I would be ready to participate. I'm happy to say that despite the best efforts of some insane and distracted drivers, in spite of the pothole and sand & gravel covered roads of Massachusetts, and in avoidance of the occasional unwieldy cyclist, in-line skater, baby stroller, and car door, I have survived the mean streets and bike paths of the bay state! I've walked, limped, or feebly peddled away from every tumble, spill, and slide, with only minor scrapes and bruises to me or my bike; my ego however, is a different story...but I digress. ;o)
I would be honored if you would like to support the efforts of the Pan Mass Challenge. While I've added some light-hearted humor to this message, the truth is that the mission here is so much bigger than just my bike ride. I have not previously had much exposure to the PMC, but have been humbled by my experience since the start of the year. These are truly wonderful, caring people - volunteers actually - striving to improve and extend the lives of so many. With their support and guidance, I expect this weekend to be daunting, emotional, and rewarding.
If you would like to make a donation, please visit my pledge page at: http://www.pmc.org/wm0073 and click on the "DONATE TO MY RIDE" button. This will walk you through the steps. If you like, pledges can be dedicated to the memory of a loved one, or in honor of a surviving loved one. Every dollar helps, but please do not feel obligated to make a large contribution, or one at all.
During my ride, I will be carrying in my jersey pocket, printouts of small pictures and short stories of those I am riding for. I would be honored to include a photo and/or a few sentences about your loved ones, too. Please send them along to me, and I will keep those pictures and stories with me as motivation, up every steep hill and across every long mile.
Thank you,
Will
