When Mary O'Sullivan, 11, of Marshfield, heard that her former third grade teacher Lynette Irons was battling breast cancer her immediate reaction was, "I want to help." Mary has been raised in a Pan-Massachusetts Challenge household. Susan O'Sullivan, Mary's mother, is a four time PMC veteran, and, as a result, Mary has ridden in three PMC Kids Rides. So Mary knew exactly what to do. She formed a team called "Irons Strong Kids," and put the word out to get Martinson Elementary School students involved in the PMC Hingham Kids Ride. On Sunday, Mary's plan to use pedal power to support her teacher was magnified by the power of 167 bikes. Cyclists between the ages of three and 15 sported identifying team labels on their backs and rode through the rain with grins from ear to ear. Many of them stopped to hug their teacher at the finish line. The school effort pushed rider registration to its max, capping the event at 500 riders for the first time the PMC Hingham Kids Ride five-year history. The Irons Strong Kids alone raised more than $12,000 helping to surpass the PMC Hingham Kids Rides overall fundraising goal of $45,000. The final total is still being tallied.
Cyclists from the PMC Hingham Kids Ride and team members of Irons Strong Kids, from left to right, Hannah Lawlor, Madison Wildes, Hannah Irons, Mary O'Sullivan, Brooke Wheaton, and Kayla Fee.
