Craig Smith's Ride

Photos

Why I Ride ...

LATE JULY, 2011
 
A great deal has happened in the past three weeks.  I spent three hours on the bike on July 12, a fitting tribute to my Mom-- on the two-year anniversary of her death from lung cancer.  Fifty miles spent training, while also remembering the roughly 50 names on my helmet... loved ones, family members, friends and even strangers; all of whom have been touched by this terrible disease.  Really, we are all family as we work together to find a cure and support each other in this journey.
 
Seemingly not a month goes by without hearing about yet another soul who is either battling cancer or connected in some way.  In just three weeks I  learned that a friend's mother had cancer surgery.  A dear woman from my churched shared that her daughter was lost...  I had a long conversation with a stranger, now a new friend, who overheard my PMC story at a business meeting.
 
I'm now less than $1,000 from my goal, with PMC weekend just around the corner.  PLEASE GIVE.  Together we can find a cure!    
 
 
2010 UPDATE
 
It's now less than one month after the first anniversary of my Mom's death from lung cancer.  I continue to train, to pray, to fundraise and to work toward eradicating cancer.  I JUST REACHED MY GOAL, on "PMC EVE," one day before the Sturbridge start.  Thank you all!
 
I'm now "stretching" to reach $7,000.
 
Please give what you can-- and help us reach the REAL goal.  Find a cure for cancer.  
 
 
 
2009
 
My Mom died of lung cancer on July 12, 2009, just 3 weeks before the 2009 PMC.  Her courageous battle is now over, but she lives on in our memories.  We must continue to work together and eradicate this terrible disease.
 
I received a sympathy card with this wonderful poem:
 
 I share with you the agony of your grief,
 the anguish of your heart finds echo in my own.
 I know I cannot enter all you feel
 nor bear the burden of your pain;
 
 I can but offer what my love does give:
   The strength of caring,
    the warmth of one who seeks to understand
    the silent storm-swept barrenness of so great a loss.
 
This I do in quiet ways,
   that on your lonely path
   you may not walk alone.
 
                                       Howard Thurman
 
Once you're part of the PMC family, you're never alone.  Thank you for your love and support.  See you on the ride!
 
 
PMC 2009

Each new day is a gift.

 


I rode in my first PMC last year to honor and support my mother and several friends/loved ones who were battling cancer.  Mom is still alive and living at home, thanks, in part, to recent advances in radiation therapy.  My other friends and family are also doing well.  Medical science continues to search for a cure and for more effective treatments, but all this takes money. 


 I look forward to participating in my second PMC and continuing to raise critical funding to fight this terrible disease.  I ask you all to be as generous as you are able, especially in these uncertain economic times.  Any donation is greatly appreciated.


 Please feel free to provide me with the name(s) of individuals you'd like to remember and I'll carry them with me as I ride.


 I thank you for your donations, your prayers, your help and your friendship. 

Remember to tell someone you love them today.


 


PMC 2008

Cancer is seemingly everywhere.  In the last year or two I have had eight loved ones and friends receive cancer diagnoses.  I therefore decided it was time to do something about it and signed up to ride in my first PMC to honor these courageous individuals and to provide financial and emotional support. 

Unbelievably, I learned in June that my Mother has lung cancer. It's hopefully operable.  She goes for a biopsy in early July and, ideally, has surgery mid-month.   This recent news only reinforces my commitment to train, ride and raise funds.

As far as the others are concerned, one person has died of brain cancer.  Two friends have learned they have prostate cancer, another has colon cancer.  Thankfully, early detection makes it likely these men will fully recover.  Males over 50, please, please get checked!

Another close friend just learned she has cervical cancer. Two women have had breast and skin cancer- both treated successfully.  Why is this happening?  We must conduct additional research- and research takes $$.  

Please join me in this critical endeavor and give generously.  

Update on Mom- Surgery went well (July 16).  We hope and pray they got all the cancer- the surgeon is optimistic.  Now we wait for final test results to come back. Thanks to everyone for your prayers!  


Craig's PMC Total

$0

Goal

$6,400

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

2012 $0 Sturbridge to Family Finish at Ptown (2-Day)
2011 $7,103 Sturbridge to Wellesley (2-Day)
2010 $7,932 Sturbridge to Wellesley (2-Day)
2009 $6,225 Sturbridge to Wellesley (2-Day)
2008 $5,025 Sturbridge to Wellesley (2-Day)
Craig's Personal Gallery