Why I PMC - John Fearon - From Boston, Co. Clare, Ireland to Boston, MA

Guest blog by John Fearon

As I crossed the finish line at my first PMC in 2015, a volunteer cheered me on with a ‘well done’ and added quietly ‘see you next year’. She did so for all the riders but still she got me thinking…maybe. I also felt I owed it to the hundreds of cancer survivors who lined the route to thank us for what we were doing. And cancer has snared more in the past twelve month but I have also seen great friends battle it courageously and with spirit. So I’ll be back next month at the two day 192 mile (310 kms) Pan-Mass Challenge bike event in Massachusetts. The PMC raised $45 million in 2015 and $500 million over 36 years. All money for research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston. 6,000 riders from seven countries participated in 2015 including ONE from Ireland! Well, Ireland will be represented again in 2016.

Aer Lingus have made the full 2016 charity donation directly to the Dana-Farber foundation (Just to be clear, I am paying my own registration, travel and accommodation costs). The great people at Thule were unimpressed when they saw that I had packed my bike in a giant plastic bag: they have given me a beautiful bike bag for the transatlantic flight. Sports Med Ireland have continued to ensure I have a good overall fitness regime, even helping me overcome torn ankle ligaments to keep on going. The National Sports Campus and Cycling Ireland gave me useful help and advice including getting a bike fit. The bike fit was done by Aidan Hammond and has made a real difference to my cycling over the past year: why did I go cycling for so long before getting that done! Thanks all.

Training continued in earnest during the year. I took part in the Great Dublin Bike Ride and am registered again to do so in 2016. I have completed the An Post Yeats Tour of Sligo, and also the An Post Burnin Burren Cycle. Retirement gives so much more time for the effort!