For the Brofsky family, of West Hartford, Conn., the Pan-Mass Challenge is more than an athletic fundraising event. Rather, the PMC is an inspirational weekend that brings together three generations of family to honor the memory of a loved one.
This August, PMC veteran David Brofsky, 56, will ride the two day 163-mile PMC route from Wellesley to Provincetown in what will be his 23rd PMC experience. His mother, Ruth, 78, a 20-year PMC volunteer, and father, Herbert, 84, a four-year PMC volunteer, both cancer survivors, will show their support from the sidelines by assisting cyclists at the Barnstable waterstop.
“Initially, I became involved with the Pan-Mass Challenge after one of my best friends did the ride to get into shape, but then, like for so many, cancer hit home for me” said David. “Both of my parents were diagnosed with cancer and my wife, who was treated at Dana-Farber. It made my family and me work that much harder to raise money for the PMC.”
Following in their elders’ tracks, David’s children, Hannah, 15, Alex, 26, and Nina, 22, will pass out water bottles alongside their grandparents. All three children are volunteer veterans for the PMC. Last summer, Nina, also a veteran PMC rider and virtual cyclist, served as a summer intern for the organization.
The Brofsky family rides, volunteers and raises money for the PMC in honor of David’s late wife and the children’s late mother, Ruth-Ann, a ten-year breast cancer survivor and six-year PMC volunteer. Though she did not lose her life to the disease, the PMC mission and hospital that successfully treated her cancer was a cause and mission close to her heart. To date, this three generation PMC family has raised nearly $540,000 to support families like theirs, who have been affected by cancer.
“When you see children holding up signs that say I’m alive because of you or I’m 12 because of you, it just gives you so much inspiration to keep doing this,” said David. “We are a three generation family full of PMC memories and we will continue to ride, volunteer and fundraise for the cause.”
Interested in becoming a member of the PMC family? Register to ride or volunteer at www.pmc.org.
Post courtesy of Teak Media + Communication
