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I began riding the PMC in 2004 as a tribute to my mother who lost her battle with cancer on December 25, 2003. At 42, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. After intensive chemotherapy and radiation, her cancer was in remission. At 53, she was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Four months and three radical surgeries later, she died.  She fought valiantly until the end. Watching her suffer broke my heart. My mother wasn't ready to die and I wasn't ready to lose her. Losing my mom was the worst experience of my life and it changed me forever. 

I heard about the PMC in 2002 through my friend Steve who lost his mom to cancer.  When I saw him at my mother's memorial service, I promised him a big donation towards the next PMC and instead of accepting, he encouraged me to ride. I hadn't been on a bike since I was 13, but participating in the PMC seemed like the perfect way for me to fight back against this terrible disease so I accepted the challenge. I borrowed a friend's bike and began training. I won't kid you; it was hard and I hated every minute of it. Some people cycle because they love it, I cycle because I have to. It's not easy to ride 200 miles and many people don't understand just how much training and dedication is necessary to compete in an event like the PMC. I made it through the training and riding the Pan Mass Challenge turned out to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I cried tears of joy as I rode through Franklin, where my mom grew up, Bellingham, where she got married and raised her family, and Yarmouth, where she spent the last and happiest years of her life. It was the perfect tribute to my mom but it became so much more. 

I determined to ride the PMC every year to do all I could to raise money to help ALL of those affected with cancer. I continued to ride, fundraise and fight. On December 31, 2006 I had a slight set back when I broke my back in a horseback riding accident at the Big Apple farm in Wrentham. Sadly, the day after my accident I lost my grandmother to brain cancer. I came very close to being paralyzed, was bed ridden for 6 months and spent another 6 months in recovery. I was unable to ride the PMC that year due to my injury and it broke my heart. I felt like I was letting my mother, grandmother and every cancer victim down. The PMC had become a part of my life. Thankfully, I was able to ride the PMC once again in 2008, with renewed determination to fund the fight against cancer.  

It's now been 5 years since my first PMC. The training is  just as difficult, but I've started to enjoy the journey. I still cry as I ride, but I have a huge smile on my face. The PMC has helped me to release some of my anger. My heart is lighter knowing that I am not alone in my loss. I'm comforted by the fact that every year 5,000 people, who I now consider my family, will get together with the common goal of raising money to find a cure for cancer.  Together PMC riders have raised nearly $240 million. With your help, I have raised $19,962. Please help me to reach my total goal of $25,000. That's just $5,038 away! 

Thank you for your support over the years. I would not be where I am today without it. Thanks mom for inspiring me and giving me the strength and courage to continue fighting.  

Love,

Joy

Joy's PMC Total

$0

Goal

$5,038

My Progress

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