Guest blog by Marty Middelmann
Why I am riding the PMC in 2016
Amie White (1969-2016)
This year, a good friend of mine, Amie White, lost her 11 year battle with Ovarian Cancer. I first met her in graduate school at Babson College 23 years ago. We became friends when we worked together on a project during an offshore elective in Paris. In 2005 she learned that she had ovarian cancer. She fought that cancer as hard as anybody I have known. I believe sometimes through sheer will power alone. She rode the Pan Mass Challenge ever since she was diagnosed. I reconnected with her at my first Pan-Mass Challenge ride in 2009. She was as full of energy and life. Every year we would meet during the PMC weekend and reconnect. Our own little reunion. Some of those years were harder for her than others and the battle in her ebbed and flowed.
From her PMC Team's site, Team Pedal 2 The Mettle
"Several times Amie rode the PMC with no hair because she was undergoing treatment during or just prior to the ride. Nothing could stop her from doing the ride. Last year, in 2015, she rode 130 miles with a fractured pelvis. In her memory we push on, because that is the way she did it so many times herself."
This is a picture of the two of us on the ferry at the end of the 2015 PMC Weekend.
Michelle Bischoff (1960-2016)
My cousin-in-law’s wife, Michelle Bischoff, also lost her battle with cancer. She was diagnosed about a year ago and she fought hard, but the cancer was very aggressive. She lost her battle at the end of March over Easter Weekend.
Last year I rode in Michelle’s honor, this year I ride in her memory
Rod Johnson (1942-2011)
It has also been 5 years since my step-father, Rod Johnson, had passed away from an aggressive Brain Tumor that had its origins from when he had Renal Cancer in 2009. The girls, my mother, and all of us still miss him.
Chris Greklek (1968-Still Fighting!!!)
Chris, my college roommate (senior year), has been battling Multiple Myeloma for 8 long years. He has started his Phase 1 Trial this past May at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston.
From one of Chris’ FaceBook posts:
Today (5/18/2016) at Dana Farber all the preliminary test are being done to start me in this Phase 1 trial. All the signs and symptoms I had before original diagnosis are back in full glory. Now I recognize them. Been getting my ass kicked the last two months waiting to start. I’ve been beaten and badly bruised but not broken. This disease will never break me. Now it’s time to fight the biggest fight I’ve had to in 8 years. It’s a fight to the death, mine or cancer. I’ll tell you it’s not going to be me. F-U cancer, I’m winning this time…once and for all.
It is your donations to the Pan-Mass Challenge that make these “trials” possible at Dana-Farber. 100% of every rider raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber.
Both Amie and Michelle leave behind a spouse and 2 kids. Chris is also a father who is fighting to be around to watch his children grow up. They, along with my late step-father Rod Johnson, will be in my thoughts this year when I ride in my 8th Pan-Mass Challenge ride on August 6th & 7th. I ride to do my part in the fight against cancer.
I am asking you to do your part in the fight against cancer by helping me hit my 2016 goal of $10,000.
When you do make your donation, think of Chris and others like him who are benefiting from the great dedication and research going on at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
I hope that I, and people like Chris, can count on your support.
Thank you for your support
Marty Middelmann
