As I prepare to ride the PMC again in 2010 I have another reason to make the trek.  When I signed on for my first go at the 84 mile route from Wellesley to Bourne in 2009 I was riding with Team Maureen to honor a classmate who lost her battle. I was about to turn 40 and had just celebrated the 10 year anniversary of my mother-in-law having won her battle against breast cancer. Unfortunately, before the ride took place we got news that the cancer had returned, tumors were found on a rib, her pelvis and her spine.  My mother-in-law and her struggle inspired me all along the route. When my knees ached or my butt was sore I thought of her and how my pain might linger but it would subside. I knew her pain was far worse and may decrease but was always with her and that kept me going. I rode on because I could, I was blessed with good health.

 

     Joan M. Owen lost her second battle with cancer Dec 16th 2009. My children ages 10 and 12 were devastated to celebrate the holidays without their Grammy, but they were at the same time thankful that they had TEN EXTRA years that treatment research was able to give them. My son who is 10 realized that without the medical advances that research discovers he may not have the memories of so many fun times he was able to share with his Grandmother. He is looking forward to riding with me as soon as he is old enough, until then he rides in the kidsPMC. Summer of 2009 he did the Bolton ride and the Hudson ride and at that point he had no idea how sick his Grammy was, he rode because far too many people in his life have fought cancer. He wants more to beat it, so we ride on and on....

 

     In the early 1970's there was a neighborhood in Hudson, MA where kids from over a dozen streets stayed out playing until the street lights came on. You could probably say that about any town of that era.
     What made this one special was the girl who was as athletic and competitive as any of the boys while at the same time being as caring as all of the Moms. She was as friendly as you could ever imagine but not the outgoing kind who went out an found friends she drew people to her without even trying. She was quietly charismatic and there will never again be anyone just like her ...  and she is the first reason I rode.

     My name is Beth Ann Bruso Owen and I grew up a few streets away from Maureen Duffey and her family. I am honored to be on a PMC team with her siblings. Maureen and I were in school together from elementary grades through graduation from High School. She had children around the same time I did and she was taken from them far too soon.

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