What first began as a simple desire to ride a century has turned into truly a family affair that spans more than 20 years.
I rode my 1st PMC in 1996 while living on Cape Cod. I originally rode for the challenge of a century, but I was quickly hooked by the mission. As a Coast Guard Officer and Helicopter Pilot, I transferred every few years to new assignments. Over the years, I traveled back to Sturbridge the first weekend in August from England, Alaska, Alabama & Virginia to ride the PMC.
In 2006, we transferred back to Alaska, arriving in Southeast Alaska less than 2 weeks before the PMC. Due to distance, a newborn and CG commitments, I was unable to make it back to Sturbridge to the start. As I had fund raised, I felt the need to keep the faith with my donors – so I rode all 192 miles in Sitka, a remote island town with just 22 miles of road. I pedaled 6 ½ laps of the 15 mile long main road that stops at the base of a mountain on either end.
Coast Guard obligations led break from the PMC from 2007-09, though not a wavering in our commitment to the PMC. In the winter of 2010, we received orders back to Massachusetts. The first thing I did after receiving my orders was register for the PMC.
Every family has been somehow touched by cancer and ours is not different. Just days after registering for the 2010 PMC my brother-in-law, Paul ‘Bud’ Thomas was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer, losing his courageous fight on July 24, 2010.
In 2011, my nephews Chris Thomas, J.D. Sareault and Andrew Sareault volunteered at MMA and then rode from Bourne to Wellesley in honor and in memory of their Dad & Uncle (respectively). In 2012, Kristin returned to ride with me on our tandem and Chris’ girlfriend, Colleen Healey, joined on as both a volunteer and rider. This year, J.D’s girlfriend, Sydney Baker will ride her 1st PMC and J.D.’s parents, Dave & Sue Sareault will be 1st year volunteers. Thoughout the years, my sister Cindy Thomas has quarterbacked logistics for many of my family's PMC rides – originally when it was just me and I was flying home from the UK or Alaska and today by looking after our young kids every PMC weekend.
Our kids, Timothy (9) and Hannah (7) are also PMC veterans. In addition to cheering on riders on PMC weekend, they have ridden PMC Kids Rides (both Westwood and Lower Cape) since 2011. In fact, Hannah is the cute kid with a Team BrentWheels lobster on her helmet at the bottom of the PMCKids webpage.
2015 marks my 17th PMC, Kristin’s 7th, Chris & JD’s 5th, Andrew & Colleen’s 4th and Sydney’s 1st. Why do we ride? Regretfully because we, like many, have lost too many friends and family to cancer. We ride because riding is easy – its’ cancer that’s hard. We ride because the cure is out there, maybe just over that next hill…
Miss you Bud…
