guest "Why I PMC" blog by Randy Krauss
Like many us, I have been exposed to cancer for a good part of my life. When I was 19, my grandfather Ben passed away, then Glen, a high school friend, aunts, uncles, cousins, colleagues. I went to grad school to study molecular biology with one goal in mind…to bring new medicines to the bedside. Finding new medicines is hard work. It takes money, people, and time. At times it is frustrating, other times it is the most rewarding thing you could do. Times are changing, slowly, but they are changing. The research being done today is advancing. New diagnostic tools and treatments are being developed everyday. Today, family, friends, and colleagues go through life changing experiences and are able beat this disease.
It wasn’t until six years ago, that I decided to contribute in another way. Partly for selfish reasons, to get healthy, I started to ride a bike and did a short charity ride for cancer. Crossing the finish line, I though about a colleague who had just passed after many years of treatment. After that, I started riding in the PMC. With support from my family and friends, I rode from Wellesley to Bourne. From there I was hooked. The following year, I did the Wellesley to Wellesley 2-day ride and have been doing it ever since. With each ride, there is a unique experience, a different emotion or thought that hits me. One year, it was a rider with one leg, someone riding with a CityBike rental, the communities of supporters who sit outside and cheer as we go by or break out their garden hose to cool us off, the hundreds of volunteers throughout the ride supporting the riders and lastly, seeing my family and friends at an improvised rest stop 15 miles each and every year.
That said, there was one moment among the many that will always stand out to me. It was during 2014 and I was riding solo down to Bourne. The forecast was gloomy to say the least. I asked my wife, Anne, if she would drive me to Bourne as I didn’t think it was safe to ride in the rain. I really didn’t see how this was possible. She suggested we go down to Wellesley and see how many people where there and if I was still uncomfortable, she would drive me to Bourne so I could ride back with my friends. Well, we got to start line in Wellesley and it was packed. If they could ride, I could ride. It had started raining after riding only thirty minutes and poured the entire ride down. I was not quite halfway to the Bourne, when I noticed a woman, standing there, soaked with her two kids, waving and rooting as I approached. They were alone. I thanked her for coming out in the rain to support us. She quickly responded, “No, thank you”. She said this as she took off her hat. It was clear she was undergoing or had undergone chemo to treat her disease. While I didn’t stop, I can tell you that I almost fell off my bike. I quickly recovered, got “ Stronger by the mile”, and have used it for inspiration ever since.
While mourning the loss of Elka, I will ride to support my Pedal Partner; a 7 year-old boy named Hugh. Hugh, who lives in Lexington, has leukemia. He undergoes treatment every week in a repeating three week cycle and will do this for two years. Two years!!!! This is not easy for Hugh, his family and friends. Know one should have to do this. Perhaps, I can inspire Hugh and he can push me.
So this year will be my 5th PMC. I hope one year we won’t have to ride, but until then, I can’t wait!
