Reflections on the Pan Mass Challenge
Good morning happy campers!
This morning as I sat here with my first cup of coffee, I had my Facebook page open and was crafting yet another witty-yet-annoying post about how proud I am of my husband for riding in the Pan Mass Challengec for his 7th year....blah blah blah. It just wasn't quite good enough though.
The Pan Mass Challenge deserves more than just a few witty lines on my FB page today.
The Pan Mass Challenge is a 2 day, 192-mile bicycle ride that starts in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and ends in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This is the largest fund raiser for the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Clinic.
This ride is truly no joke - I've done it myself just once. Not only is the distance daunting - the first day you spend a fair amount of time climbing the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains as you start your trek. The second day may not have as many "hills" by definition, but the small climbs coupled with the wind off of the water on Cape Code make it a completely different challenge in itself.
....however, that's just the physical part. Physical challenges can be met with proper training and focus.
It's the rest of it that sits with me long after the ride and recover are over.
The year will mark the 17th year that I lost my first husband Rick to colon cancer - August 20, 1997. This was by far the darkest day of my entire life (being only 24 at the time, I was a mere babe myself); I would never wish this experience upon anyone to have to go through. Watching someone you love go through cancer treatment and letting them go is something that we should not have to do. There are times that I wonder how I even go through it all.....he was truly watching over me to make sure I was ok...and still does today.
On the anniversary of his passing we try not to be sad - there is no reason for it; I live through it the day it happened so I don't put myself through it every year. It's clear that I will never be the same, and that is felt year round not just one day a year.
...back to this event.
In 2008, I rode the Pan Mass Challenge with Earl - it really was a challenge for me; while I am proud to have taken on this challenge, it was my one and only year riding the event. Moving forward, I have now worked as a volunteer for the Pan Mass Challenge and this has been another step along my journey.
Every year you meet riders (on our Company team as well as at the ride) that ALL have a story. Most people that ride are riding for someone that they know who has battled cancer or beat cancer - some of them are survivors themselves! The volunteers are the same - some stories are beyond words. I've met folks that have been volunteering for 20 years - some even more. I've met couples who volunteer every year in honor of their children who have passed away; I've met folks that volunteer every year to celebrate their own victory over cancer - even the young cheer squad that volunteers their time every year has been doing this for 15 years! As you share your story there are tears and laughs....but everyone listens and they all care.
I've made friends over the years at this ride that I will call friends for years to come even after the Pan Mass Challenge is over. It gets better every year - the bonds grow and the hugs get even longer at goodbye.
But it's only goodbye until next year.
As the sun comes upon the first day of the ride, until long after the riders are on their way to Cape Cod, the volunteer workers take over and make sure all is left as it was encountered.....some go on to work at the water stops - some go on to feed the riders in Bourne and Provincetown. I've grown fond of the role of volunteer - and I know I'm there to support Earl as he begins to ride as well as 5,000 of our closest friends.
I wish you all an opportunity to do something that makes you feel as complete as this makes me feel....the feeling of being able to to truly be a part of something and to truly give back is somethings that cannot be put into words.
This morning as I sat here with my first cup of coffee, I had my Facebook page open and was crafting yet another witty-yet-annoying post about how proud I am of my husband for riding in the Pan Mass Challengec for his 7th year....blah blah blah. It just wasn't quite good enough though.
The Pan Mass Challenge deserves more than just a few witty lines on my FB page today.
The Pan Mass Challenge is a 2 day, 192-mile bicycle ride that starts in Sturbridge, Massachusetts and ends in Provincetown, Massachusetts. This is the largest fund raiser for the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Clinic.
This ride is truly no joke - I've done it myself just once. Not only is the distance daunting - the first day you spend a fair amount of time climbing the foothills of the Berkshire Mountains as you start your trek. The second day may not have as many "hills" by definition, but the small climbs coupled with the wind off of the water on Cape Code make it a completely different challenge in itself.
....however, that's just the physical part. Physical challenges can be met with proper training and focus.
It's the rest of it that sits with me long after the ride and recover are over.
The year will mark the 17th year that I lost my first husband Rick to colon cancer - August 20, 1997. This was by far the darkest day of my entire life (being only 24 at the time, I was a mere babe myself); I would never wish this experience upon anyone to have to go through. Watching someone you love go through cancer treatment and letting them go is something that we should not have to do. There are times that I wonder how I even go through it all.....he was truly watching over me to make sure I was ok...and still does today.
On the anniversary of his passing we try not to be sad - there is no reason for it; I live through it the day it happened so I don't put myself through it every year. It's clear that I will never be the same, and that is felt year round not just one day a year.
...back to this event.
In 2008, I rode the Pan Mass Challenge with Earl - it really was a challenge for me; while I am proud to have taken on this challenge, it was my one and only year riding the event. Moving forward, I have now worked as a volunteer for the Pan Mass Challenge and this has been another step along my journey.
Every year you meet riders (on our Company team as well as at the ride) that ALL have a story. Most people that ride are riding for someone that they know who has battled cancer or beat cancer - some of them are survivors themselves! The volunteers are the same - some stories are beyond words. I've met folks that have been volunteering for 20 years - some even more. I've met couples who volunteer every year in honor of their children who have passed away; I've met folks that volunteer every year to celebrate their own victory over cancer - even the young cheer squad that volunteers their time every year has been doing this for 15 years! As you share your story there are tears and laughs....but everyone listens and they all care.
I've made friends over the years at this ride that I will call friends for years to come even after the Pan Mass Challenge is over. It gets better every year - the bonds grow and the hugs get even longer at goodbye.
But it's only goodbye until next year.
As the sun comes upon the first day of the ride, until long after the riders are on their way to Cape Cod, the volunteer workers take over and make sure all is left as it was encountered.....some go on to work at the water stops - some go on to feed the riders in Bourne and Provincetown. I've grown fond of the role of volunteer - and I know I'm there to support Earl as he begins to ride as well as 5,000 of our closest friends.
I wish you all an opportunity to do something that makes you feel as complete as this makes me feel....the feeling of being able to to truly be a part of something and to truly give back is somethings that cannot be put into words.
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