#WhyIPMC guest blog by Steve Valliere, 7-year rider, Team Quinnquistadores (Captain)
I began riding for the PMC in 2017 when the company I work for started a team. I rode Wellesley to Bourne that year
and I still remember how moved I was arriving in Lakeville with all the signs and posters of those affected by cancer. It is a truly overwhelming experience. I continued riding for 4 more years, Bourne to Provincetown in 2018, Wellesley to Provincetown in 2019, PMC Unpaved in 2020, and Wellesley to Provincetown again in 2021. Until I decided not to ride in 2022. As much as I wanted to continue raising funds for this great cause, it had become challenging to continue asking the same friends and family for donations. However, the PMC was not done with me.
In January of last year, our daughter Quinn (now 6 years old) was diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma. She has been through 15 months of treatments including 5 rounds of chemo, surgery, two bone marrow transplants, 12 days of radiation, and 6 rounds of immunotherapy. She completed her treatment in April and is now cancer free! None of this can come close to describing the challenge that was 2023 for our family, nor can words describe how grateful we are to have such amazing and supportive friends and family,
or how lucky we feel to live so close to such excellent medical staff and facilities at Boston Children's and the Jimmy Fund Clinic.
Reflecting on the past 15 months and knowing the years to come of testing and monitoring Quinn's health, we can't help but continue to advocate for the Jimmy Fund and try to raise money for the great work they do through the PMC.
I began riding again in 2023 and founded the team Quinnquistadores with a friend from college. Our son Lionel (17) also volunteered for his first PMC. This year will be my 7th and Lionel's first year riding as well as my wife's first year volunteering for Quinn and all the other families that face cancer head on. If you plan to make charitable donations this year, please consider this great cause or get involved yourself by joining a team, volunteering, or just spreading the word. Every bit helps kids like Quinn survive this awful disease and go on to live happy, full lives.
