Alexa Pozniak's Ride
Why I Ride ...
After last year's Pan Mass Challenge I was burnt out....tired from all of the
tough training and fundraising. As I crossed the finish line after biking 192
miles, I decided right then and there to skip the 2011 PMC. That was until a
pint-sized warrior changed my perspective!
Last fall, I shot a feature for ESPN about 6-year old Lauren Turner who was fighting for her life against a deadly form of leukemia. Over the course of two months, I ventured down to NC to film different portions of the piece. Lauren was like a little firecracker - full of energy with a smile that could light up a room. She was in the midst of chemo treatments when we first met, gearing up to receive a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant from her big sister. Like most kids, Lauren's resiliency was astounding. No hair? No problem. To cover up the side-effects of chemo, she donned a sequined-covered cap. The IV constantly attached to her arm became like an extra appendage, as Lauren raced back and forth to the play-room pushing the IV pole. Even while she was receiving the actual chemo treatments, she'd set about trying to wheel and deal "silly bands" with the nurses who were injecting the drugs into her body!
But as the treatments continued, Lauren's tiny body became weaker by the day. While most of her peers were home riding bikes, she was relegated to a hospital bed. Days spent doing arts and crafts and playing video games soon gave way to sleeping hours on end, as the drugs slowly prepared her body for the transplant. When the big-day finally arrived and the new bone marrow was injected into her system, everyone was filled with anticipation. Would this be the cure they were hoping for? All signs looked good, until Lauren suddenly took a turn for the worse. Her body began to shut down, as her organs went into failure. For days she lay in a coma-like state. Lauren was near death.
It was excruciating to read the daily email updates from her mother. Every child I'd see on the street triggered the "it's not fair" phrase to pass through my mind. Why did Lauren have to be so sick, robbed of her precious childhood? Weeks later....a miracle happened. Lauren would pull through. The fighter in her had taken hold. Today she's in remission and doing extraordinarily well!
Here's the actual story if you would like to watch:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5659510
So I'm hitting the road again! For the third year in a row I'm fighting back against cancer and raising some much-needed research dollars. This year I'm dedicating my ride to Lauren, Tyler (another special little guy who is battling leukemia), and the many others in my life who have fought this disease.
On August 6th/7th I'll participate in the Pan Mass Challenge, which is the biggest cancer fundraising event in the world. What makes this event unique is that 100% of the money riders raise goes directly to cancer researchers. In order to meet my fundraising goal, which is $4300, I'm depending upon the generosity of good people like you to dig into your pocket and donate some dollars to an amazing cause. No amount is too small. And if you are kind enough to contribute, print out a receipt - it's tax deductible!
Here is a link to my site, where you can donate by credit card. http://www.pmc.org/profile/AP0103http://www.pmc.org/egifts/AP0103 <http://www.pmc.org/profile/AP0103http://www.pmc.org/egifts/AP0103>
Or you can drop a check in the mail made payable to the "PMC/Jimmy Fund": Alexa Pozniak, 11 Chester Rd, Billerica, MA 01821.
If you would like to dedicate your donation to someone special who has suffered from this disease (or if you, yourself, are a cancer survivor), please include a name in a note and I will carry it with me the entire 192 miles.
Remember, if you're a man you have a 1 in 2 risk of developing cancer over the course of your lifetime. And ladies, we have a 1 in 3 chance. So we're all in this together.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to email me.
Many thanks -
Alexa
Last fall, I shot a feature for ESPN about 6-year old Lauren Turner who was fighting for her life against a deadly form of leukemia. Over the course of two months, I ventured down to NC to film different portions of the piece. Lauren was like a little firecracker - full of energy with a smile that could light up a room. She was in the midst of chemo treatments when we first met, gearing up to receive a potentially life-saving bone marrow transplant from her big sister. Like most kids, Lauren's resiliency was astounding. No hair? No problem. To cover up the side-effects of chemo, she donned a sequined-covered cap. The IV constantly attached to her arm became like an extra appendage, as Lauren raced back and forth to the play-room pushing the IV pole. Even while she was receiving the actual chemo treatments, she'd set about trying to wheel and deal "silly bands" with the nurses who were injecting the drugs into her body!
But as the treatments continued, Lauren's tiny body became weaker by the day. While most of her peers were home riding bikes, she was relegated to a hospital bed. Days spent doing arts and crafts and playing video games soon gave way to sleeping hours on end, as the drugs slowly prepared her body for the transplant. When the big-day finally arrived and the new bone marrow was injected into her system, everyone was filled with anticipation. Would this be the cure they were hoping for? All signs looked good, until Lauren suddenly took a turn for the worse. Her body began to shut down, as her organs went into failure. For days she lay in a coma-like state. Lauren was near death.
It was excruciating to read the daily email updates from her mother. Every child I'd see on the street triggered the "it's not fair" phrase to pass through my mind. Why did Lauren have to be so sick, robbed of her precious childhood? Weeks later....a miracle happened. Lauren would pull through. The fighter in her had taken hold. Today she's in remission and doing extraordinarily well!
Here's the actual story if you would like to watch:
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=5659510
So I'm hitting the road again! For the third year in a row I'm fighting back against cancer and raising some much-needed research dollars. This year I'm dedicating my ride to Lauren, Tyler (another special little guy who is battling leukemia), and the many others in my life who have fought this disease.
On August 6th/7th I'll participate in the Pan Mass Challenge, which is the biggest cancer fundraising event in the world. What makes this event unique is that 100% of the money riders raise goes directly to cancer researchers. In order to meet my fundraising goal, which is $4300, I'm depending upon the generosity of good people like you to dig into your pocket and donate some dollars to an amazing cause. No amount is too small. And if you are kind enough to contribute, print out a receipt - it's tax deductible!
Here is a link to my site, where you can donate by credit card. http://www.pmc.org/profile/AP0103http://www.pmc.org/egifts/AP0103 <http://www.pmc.org/profile/AP0103http://www.pmc.org/egifts/AP0103>
Or you can drop a check in the mail made payable to the "PMC/Jimmy Fund": Alexa Pozniak, 11 Chester Rd, Billerica, MA 01821.
If you would like to dedicate your donation to someone special who has suffered from this disease (or if you, yourself, are a cancer survivor), please include a name in a note and I will carry it with me the entire 192 miles.
Remember, if you're a man you have a 1 in 2 risk of developing cancer over the course of your lifetime. And ladies, we have a 1 in 3 chance. So we're all in this together.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to email me.
Many thanks -
Alexa
Alexa's PMC Total
$0
Goal
$0
My Progress
My Online Supporters
| I have chosen to keep all of my donors' information confidential; therefore it is not displayed on my PMC public donor list. |
My Rides
| 2011 | $4,200 | Wellesley to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2010 | $4,933 | Sturbridge to Provincetown Inn (2-Day) |
| 2009 | $5,515 | Sturbridge to Family Finish at Ptown (2-Day) |