Hello,

There's a old Triumph three speed hanging in my garage. That bike belonged to my grandfather. We used to ride bikes along the riverfront in Marine City, Michigan. During my summer visits, he'd also take me out to fish and to go bowling, and he'd often say, "bikes are the best way to get around."

My grandparents had one son; my Pop, who married another only child, my Mom. Together they had four kids.  Pop worked hard, raised his kids and died one month after retirement.

 

Cancer.

Some years before that happened, I joined the Air Force and went overseas to Clark Field in the Philippines to work for the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service. I brought a 10 speed and rode around the base every day between the rainy seasons.  There, I met and married Gloria, my wife of 30 years.  Her father passed away at 37 and left a large family behind. 

 

Cancer.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Gloria is the compassion and care she showed for my Dad as he slipped away.  She taught me a few valuable lessons about the human side of dealing with cancer.  She says it helped her to finally deal with the loss of her Dad.  Today, she's a volunteer massage therapist at the PMC Bourne hub site.

My introduction to the PMC begain when I started working with the previous media sponsor in 1999 as a shift engineer.  In 2001, we were asked to put together a remote in Provincetown at the finish line. So we hired a production truck, built a little stage by the side of the road and there I met the PMC's unofficial President of P Town, Jack Connally. I think we drove that old Marine and Teamster a little crazy with our television production whatnot.  We also learned that Jack controlled an entire semi-trailer loaded with beer. We needed to keep this man very happy.

On the day of the show, we couldn't make TV. Some rodent actually chewed through our transmission lines. So I used a few words that George Carlin once said couldn't be used on TV, and we scrambled to replace the lines. After we made air, (on time) and finished the show, Jack appeared with a tub of ice and frosty Harpoons and I learned why he put so much into welcoming the riders.  Jack has since passed away.

Cancer.

In 2002, we moved the big production to the start of the ride in Sturbridge. While I was warming up the crowd, somebody yelled out a dare. I thought he was kidding. But he wasn't and the crowd actually started chanting for me to ride. So I made the ride for the first time in 2003. 

There is something about the rolling party, the volunteers, the hope and the challenge that keeps me coming back to the PMC. Everyone who takes part has a reason and knows what I mean. The best part is that you need not ride to take part, the riders love the volunteers who make the ride possible. If you can't make it, then please do kick in a little cash with a contribution toward the cause. A final point about your contribution: 100 percent of every rider-raised and tax-deductible contribution dollar goes right where it needs to; The Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber, to fund the cure.

Thank you for your financial support of my 2011 ride for the PMC, Jimmy Fund and Dana Farber. This year, I'll be riding for the first time with Team 5. Together, we will defeat cancer. You do make a difference.

All The Best,

Dave