Howdy ,
Well, it has been 1 year, 4 months, and 1 day since I was diagnosed with Cancer and 3 months, 22 days, 1 hour, 51 minutes, 15 seconds since I had my Cancer resection surgery (but who’s counting?). I feel great and my prognosis is very positive. I am Thriving.
As you know, for the past 10 years I have ridden in the Pan-Mass Challenge, a two-day, 192-mile cycling event that raises money in support of the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The Pan-Mass Challenge has grown tremendously over time, and raised over $32 million last year, bringing the all time total to more than $204 million.
Now that I am a “Thriving” cancer patient, the 2008 Pan-Mass Challenge will be more meaningful than ever for me. In the past, I always rode to help raise money for cancer research, but I never imagined I would ride as a possible beneficiary of that research.
As for the ride itself, I am again making the trip with a group of friends who are known on the road as “Paul’s Posse.” All the money we raise will again go directly to support the research of Dr. George D. Demetri, the world’s leading authority on GIST, the type of cancerous tumor that found its way into my body. I have even convinced George, to ride in the PMC again!
Therefore, on Aug. 2nd, I will start my 11th Pan Mass challenge. Similar to the 2007 PMC, it is going to be harder because of my illness and my treatment, but I am going to do it.
I’ve taken this challenge seriously for these past 10 years, and I can tell you that now, more than ever, I want to be a part of the effort to search for a solution, and I am hoping that you want to be a part of it too. Before my diagnosis, cancer was a concept, a bad thing that was happening to other people, a bad thing that I wanted to help stop. Now that I am a patient, I understand the importance of the PMC on a whole new level.
Now, when I talk about hope on the roads of Massachusetts, it is no longer a conversation about the looks on the faces of the thousands upon thousands of supporters lining the route. It is now a conversation about my own future, my own treatment, and the hope that new research will one day leave me cancer free. For my part, I am asking myself to send out countless letters raising money, train hard and do the ride, and never stop hoping. For your part, I’m asking you to make a pledge to the cause.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a more worthy and leaner organization. In 2007, 100 percent of all funds raised by PMC riders went directly to the Jimmy Fund. More importantly, as in 2007 when the members of Paul’s Posse raised nearly $500,000, 100% percent of the monies raised by Paul’s Posse this year will go directly to the Dr. George D. Demetri at Fan-Farber.
I truly believe somewhere along the road between Sturbridge and Provincetown lies a cure for cancer, maybe even for me. You can help us find it.
Your tax-deductible check can be made payable to PMC/Jimmy Fund and you can mail it to me. Alternatively, you can use your credit card to make a donation on line http://www.pmc.org/mypmc/profiles.asp?Section=story&eGiftID=PS0036 . If you have questions please do not hesitate to or e-mail [email protected].
Thanks for joining the battle.
Thrive On,
Paul
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