Why I PMC - Caitlyn Gable

#WhyIPMC guest blog by Caitlyn Gable, 2-year rider, Team Curley's Cruisers

It's difficult to describe the impact the Pan-Mass weekend had on our team last
year. It's a profound experience to be a part of something so positive and full of hope for
so many impacted by cancer. This year, Curley's Cruisers will ride again in honor of our
captain, Chris 'Curley' Manchester, who is currently receiving treatment from
Dana-Farber for Colorectal cancer. Chris was diagnosed in 2022 and became a Living
Proof rider in 2023, while undergoing chemotherapy. Chris is an inspiration to our team
both on and off the bike.
On Saturday, Day 1 of the 2023 PMC weekend, teammates Billy and Curley were
the final two PMC riders to reach Mass Maritime Academy. Allow me to share their story
as a testament to the PMC community and Billy and Curley's friendship. At the 15-mile
mark, Curley took a spill, and to make matters worse, his cell phone holder broke off so
he was without a distraction to break up the next 94 miles. They continued on together,
encouraging each other and taking in the experience. Then, at mile 42, the Franklin
stop, a kind volunteer approached Billy and asked if he was ok. He didn't understand
why she’d singled him out until she told him, “We're the last rider van, and well, you're
the last riders.” Billy and Curley had made a game plan for managing the crowds of
riders, steering clear of the more experienced and drafting large groups whenever they
could, and here they were, roughly a ⅓ of the way in and the last of more than 6,000
riders.
Reality settled in as they realized that if they were going to finish, it would just be
the two of them for the last nearly 70 miles. This turned out to be the most rewarding
part of the journey. As the ride went on, their stops became more frequent, and they
began playing leapfrog with the last van, whose sole purpose was to look out for their
safety. After the initial inquiry, the van driver never asked again if they needed help or
needed to stop. She knew from the determination on Curley's face that he and Billy
would finish. The van quietly supported their last 70 miles. As you can imagine, the last
mile was an emotional one and they finally reached Mass Maritime as the sun set.
We will never forget the cheers and hugs from the volunteers who stayed long
after the other riders had dispersed. We are grateful for the tremendous encouragement
from our Curley's Cruisers community, the PMC support vans, bystanders and
volunteers along the way. This year our team looks a little different. We’ve welcomed
my husband Charlie Gable to the team and we’ll ride with my brother Billy McSheffrey
and brother-in-law Duran Vota. Teammates Curley, Becky Vota and Sam McSheffrey
will most definitely be cheering us on along the route. We ride again this year to honor
Chris and support the fight against cancer because we are #OneInABillion. If you’re
able, we would greatly appreciate your continued support with our ride this year. Please
join Curley’s Cruisers in being #OneInABillion