06/12/2023
I first heard of the Pan-Mass Challenge on November 22nd last year. Propped on a barstool with Kev at High Hope Tavern we sipped ‘smoked n roasteds’ and he enthusiastically explained his desire to fundraise, train, and ride the PMC. I was all in. It’s an 186mi bike from Sturbridge to Cape Cod and has raised $900 million towards cancer research since 1980. Kev’s motivation to ride derived from his two and a half year fight with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia under the care of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston starting 2019. He’d been in remission until just a couple weeks following this conversation. My heart sank, even stopping a moment hearing the news. Before the fear and helplessness the word ‘cancer’ provokes set it, of course it would be Kev saying calmly with a smile “it’s just another dance” and everything would be alright.
This second battles path to a “cure” would involve a bone marrow transplant following two months of chemotherapy shrinking tumors to a state of remission. A marrow transplant can be a stressful waiting game in search of a match.
“Thankfully, my brother saved me from that. Not only did he save me from waiting, but saved me, period.”
This March his brother Bryan underwent a three-hour surgery to harvest his bone marrow and later that day they were forever bonded as true ‘blood brothers’.
“It’s because of events like the Pan-Mass Challenge that have allowed my brother to give me a second second chance at life. The money raised fuels all of the research and treatment breakthroughs that give more and more people hopeful options to keep living in the face of adversity, which is ultimately the greatest gift.”
This PMC will look differently than anticipated as our team will fundraise and ride in honor of Kev and for friends and family fighting similar battles. His recovery is long and restrictive but I’m certain we’ll ride a handful of miles shoulder to shoulder this August. I’ve committed to fundraising $6000 towards cancer research this PMC and invite you to support me and team ‘Bad Blood’ on our 186mi ride.
All donations through link below and sharing of our ride are greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
https://profile.pmc.org/BH0277
