In my lifetime I have known so many people who have fought cancer. I am doing this ride for the many family and friends I have known that have fought cancer. Although I am doing it for all of those people, there are 2 people that have motivated me to do the ride this year. I am riding in honor of one of those individuals and in memory of the other.
I have felt the pain of losing loved ones and friends to cancer since I was very young. I have lived with this pain my whole life and have never written about it or spoke about it until now. One of the first people I lost to cancer was my dad, James Quinn. He battled brain cancer when I was a senior in high school. He was the most influential person in my life. He was a great person and father. He was a hardworking, dedicated and caring man, who always put family first. He was active in the community, church and coached his kids in youth sports. I have strived to be as good a person and father as he was. I do not feel as though I have even come close. He succumbed to brain cancer the day before the start of my freshman year in college. I lost my mom, Eunice Quinn, to lung cancer when I was in my 30s. She was also a great person and mother. She had been active in AA for 30 years and was a sponsor to many recovering alcoholics. She helped so many people in their efforts to overcome alcoholism. Years later I lost my mother in law to the same type of cancer. I have also lost many other aunts, uncles, friends and students of mine to the disease.
In April of 2018 my son, Brady Quinn, was in his 5th year of a 6-year college program. He was majoring in pharmacy.
After much thought and consideration, we came to the only conclusion that made sense. Dana-Farber was the only place we wanted to go for treatment. I could not have asked for more from the doctors and nurses at Dana-Farber. They were great. Brady had many different appointments and 12 chemotherapy treatments. Everyone at Dana-Farber was so supportive and helpful. My son was not alone. He had friends, relatives and his family’s support through the whole process in addition to the staff at Dana-Farber. I kept my promise of being there every step of the way. He finished his treatment in the late summer of 2018. In November Doctor Philpipe Armand congratulated him on being cancer free.
I also want to dedicate this ride to a dear friend who recently lost her battle with cancer. Marie Carbone was an amazing woman who accomplished so much in her life. She was a loving mother, wife, friend and educator, whose life was cut too short by this disease. I feel this phrase is overused, but Marie truly was a person who lit up the room as soon as she entered. She always had a kind word and a smile, even during her 8-year battle with cancer. She had the ability to make friends with everyone she met including the doctors and nurses who treated her. She fought with courage, tenacity and grace. Marie passed away in January of 2023. I ride for all the people in my life who have fought and lost, fought and won and those that are still fighting cancer, but I would like to dedicate the ride in honor of my son, Brady Quinn and in memory of my friend Marie Carbone