My name is Karl Halpin, and I'm gearing up for my ninth PMC ride.
It all started in 2017 when a co-worker shared heartbreaking news about his wife's cancer diagnosis. With their young children, Frankie and Jack, aged just 10 and 6 at the time, Team Siena was born at Siena Construction to support Sue Cardinal. Initially a small team of seven, we dove into the PMC without fully knowing what to expect. After that first ride, we were captivated.
Over the years, our team expanded in size, fundraising efforts, and involvement in the PMC community. In 2023, we had our first Pedal Partner, Hessah Matar, we cherished meeting her at the Pedal Partner tent during PMC weekend.
Last year marked a significant milestone as Frankie Cardinal, Sue's son we rode for in 2017, joined us on Day 1. It was an incredible full-circle moment. Additionally, my son Liam, at just 16, participated in his inaugural PMC ride, introducing the next generation to our PMC family.
In 2024, we were privileged to ride for Alex Young as our Pedal Partner, and we remain deeply honored to continue riding in his memory this year. Alex profoundly impacted our team — his strength, resilience, and bright spirit inspired us all. Staying in touch with Alex and his family every other week brought us closer together, and that bond became something truly special.
Alex lost his courageous battle with cancer on April 12th. While our hearts are heavy, we are more determined than ever to ride for him, to celebrate his life, and to carry forward the light he brought into ours.
I ride not only for Alex but for all my family and friends who have been affected by this terrible disease. I ride in honor of my father, Billy Halpin, my sister-in-law, Heather Cobb, and my dear friend, Peter Carrick, who lost his battle in 2019—just to name a few.
This year, our team's goal is to surpass $1,000,000 in cumulative fundraising since 2017. Here's hoping we achieve it!
Thank you for the wonderful support through the years. You can support my ride and the PMC using the following link: https://profile.pmc.org/KH0281. Looking forward to another meaningful ride this year.