#9 is in my veins & a PMC Weekend Recap

Waiting for chemo treatment #9. Had to get stuck by 4 needles today.

The 32nd Pan Mass Challenge has come and gone (but you can still make your donation). And so has my 9th chemo treatment. As is typical, treatment day was a very long day and I am resting. The recovery time to regain my energy level now is nearly the entire time between the treatments. In the next 41 days, I will have my final 3 chemo treatments. Not that anyone is counting.

I had the good fortune, thanks to the tremendous effort of my wife and her family, to be in Barnstable on Sunday, August 7th as my Forza-G teammates were riding the second day of this year’s PMC. It was great to see the team, and some other great friends (Diane, Jared, and Pastor John). It was fairly early on Sunday morning, before 8 AM, and our family was out front of our vacation rental, conveniently located on the PMC route. Everyone except for my daughter, who decided to sleep in (for once).

My teammates, during our traditional team photo in Bourne, held up ‘cardboard’ cutouts of myself and two other missing teammates so we could feel like we were there. Sadly, these two missing teammates were not riding during this years PMC as there were separately with beloved family members who passed in the days after the ride. Another reminder of why we ride the PMC.

Diane taking our traditional Bourne photo, wishing I was there. (apologies for the blurriness - camera battery was about to fail)

In another photo taken in Bourne, my fantastic PMC friend and fellow cancer survivor Diane, took a picture of her (sorry, it is a little blurry, her camera battery was about to fail) in the same spot she and I had our picture taken last year. Her arm is extended, acting as though I was there with her. Very thoughtful and very touching.

Here are some photos of my teammates visiting us in Barnstable. You should know that our team today passed $200,000 raised this year. WOW! Thank you for your donation into that total! It is amazing…. our new goal for this year – $250,000!

(click on any pic to see a full size image)

Waiting for chemo treatment #9. Had to get stuck by 4 needles today.

Diane taking our traditional Bourne photo, wishing I was there. (apologies for the blurriness – camera battery was about to fail)

Roadside – cheering on the PMC Riders

Me with my great PMC friend and fellow survivor Diane

A quick visit with Jared

with Simon and Garrett

Many of my teammates wrote my name on the back of their legs. This is a PMC tradition to show others who you are riding for. Honored.

Cycling Mentor Jaime and my father-in-law

with Team Captain Matt and great supporter Suzy

Photo with many of my teammates who stopped

with Kathi, Pie Stop Maven Extraordinaire and knitter of my new treatment blanket

Again – thanks to all my teammates for their continued support, their tremendous fundraising efforts, and their energy. Seeing all of you in Barnstable was the highlight of my summer. I will see you all soon on the road.

Finally, I had the great pleasure tonight of finding this video by country singer Martina McBride. She wrote this song about supporting a loved one with cancer, and this morning, a special video was shown on Good Morning America and on CMT.com. Watching this video made me so thankful for my amazing wife who has taken care of me every day, my family and her family who have come to stay with us to help, our many friends who have provided us meals and house cleaning, and for all of the people who have sent me notes of love and support. This video moved me tremendously, I hope that you will find the power in it for someone who has cancer.

>> watch “I’m Gonna Love You Through it” by Martina McBride

As always, thanks for your support as I continue this battle.  Thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts and share my experiences.

Love,

Andy

Watch the Opening Ceremonies from 2011 PMC

If you want to see fellow cancer survivor and now veteran PMC rider Lance Armstrong speak, skip ahead to: 15:15

Watch the PMC Opening Cermonies Tonight!

On Friday, Augsut 5th at 7 pm, WCVB’s premier news magazine, Chronicle (Channel 5), produces a one-hour show, from the grounds outside the Sturbridge Host Hotel, in celebration of the PMC. Friends and families from outside Massachusetts can watch the Chronicle special as it streams live online at www.thebostonchannel.com.

This is a great way for you to learn more about the spirit and energy of the PMC and the impact it is having on the fight against cancer. Enjoy!

One Month Away from PMC 2011

In about a month, on Saturday, August 6th, 5,000 plus cyclists will put on their helmets and start pedaling from Sturbridge and Wellesley, MA towards Bourne on the first day of the 2011 Pan-Mass Challenge. If you are reading this blog, you most likely know about the PMC. You know about the fundraising and the cause, ending cancer in our day. You know that I am committed to this cause. You most likely have been one of the nearly 200 people who have donated to my effort in the past 5 years.

Making it to Provincetown at the end of my first PMC (2007)

When the calendar turned to 2011, I planned on training and fundraising more than I ever had before. This year is the 15th anniversary of, what is now, my first battle with cancer. Right after my birthday in March, the second battle began. This has had monumental effects on my life, obviously.

Tomorrow (July 5th), I will reach the halfway point of my chemotherapy treatments, which has stopped my training for the 2011 PMC before it really started. I will not be riding from Sturbridge to Bourne to Provincetown in early August. I hope to make it to Cape Cod on the weekend of the ride to see my teammates and cheer on the cyclists as they head toward their goal on Sunday.

Team Forza-G with Jack in Brewster (2010)

I recently was interviewed by the PMC for their blog. During the interview, I talked about being more dedicated to the PMC and the cause. I spend a lot of time these days sitting or lying on the couch, having no energy, trying to eat, trying to drink more water, hoping that the side effects (nausea, constipation, random aches and pains, neutropenia) can be kept away by the daily regimen of pills and herbs that I take. During these times, I think a lot about the PMC. About all of the people standing on the side of the road, cheering the riders, holding signs that say “Thank You for Riding” or “I have a dad because you ride” or “I am 14. Thank You!”. I think of the millions of dollars that this event has raised in 32 years and the millions more that it will raise this year and beyond. I marvel at how this event has grown from its humble beginnings to something that thousands dedicate themselves to every year.

And I think about how I might not be winning my 2nd battle with Hodgkins Lymphoma right now without the PMC. How fortunate I am to have the doctors, nurses, and drugs that I have to take care of me and my cancer. What if the PMC did not exist? And the Breast Cancer Walks? And the ACS Relay for Life? And all of the other great fundraising events that are raising millions upon millions of dollars for cancer research, treatments, and care. What if we, all along, had just relied on the government, hospitals, and universities to make the investments that lead to ground-breaking and life-saving discoveries without all of the extra funds? Where would we be? How would my battle be going?

Thankfully, I don’t live in that world. And you don’t live in that world.

Now, think about your friends and family and how many times it has been hit by cancer. We know that in some cases, like mine and over 250 PMC Living Proof cyclists, it can be beaten. And in others, like my aunt and countless others, it cannot. I believe that we need to make it so that “cannots” of the future are “cans”. Because of this second round, I am now more dedicated to the PMC and its mission. To finish the fight and score the ultimate knockout, making cancer history in our lifetime.

I am not riding in the 2011 PMC. At this time, my energy is not best spent on a bicycle. I will miss and yearn to see all those signs again next year. What I can do now is ask you to help the cause by making a donation to the PMC and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 100% of the money that you donate will go to provide Dana-Farber’s doctors and researchers the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers. Thank you!

Tomorrow, Round 6…..

Related articles

• Finally, Some Good News (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• Treatments Planned (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• Waiting for Tomorrow to Become Today (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• Sitting in the chair (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)

Because….

The big check announcement was last Friday night. I am so proud to be one of the 5,000 cyclists involved in the work to create a $33 million check to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The 2010 PMC donation to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

I want to say thank you to all my supporters for doing your part to make this happen. In 4 years, 175 people have donated to my ride a total of  $26,179. I am in awe of the continued encouragement and support I receive from all of you. And it is because of you that I am, right now, committed to riding my 5th PMC in 2011 to celebrate my 15th year of life after my cancer treatment!

I am now more committed to this cause than ever.

 

• Because of the encouragement and support that you have given me.
• Because of the notes and phone calls I receive from friends who just want to talk about their family’s battle against cancer.
• Because of the knowledge that a world where cancer is treatable, manageable, and curable is obtainable, if not in my lifetime, then in my daughter’s.
• Because one of you receives an email from Senator John Kerry every year about the PMC and to get a donation and you write him back to tell him that you are on board, but that you will supporting me instead of him.
• Because of the hundreds of signs, put up along the PMC route by people I don’t know and will never meet, thanking the riders for riding a bike, saying that their mom or dad or son or daughter now have a chance to beat the cancer that they are fighting.
• Because of the families in my life that are battling this disease right now.

Four words: A cure for cancer.

That is the ultimate goal. The PMC is one part of the grand mission to make that happen. My annual ride is just one small piece of that mission. Your continued emotional and financial support in all of this is INVALUABLE.

I will kick off my fundraising next February 23rd, the 15th anniversary of my cancer diagnosis. My fundraising goal for 2011 will be $7,500.  I know that I can count on you for your support!

Big Day for Fundraising & More Pics of 2010 Ride

After much waiting and consternation (I know, big word to start a blog post with and hope that people will keep reading), I have finally sent off my last chunk of fundraising checks to a generous person who has agreed to match! Right now, this year’s PMC fundraising total is

$4,858

Thanks to the generosity of so many people, and this amazing match, the total will be at least:

$6,858

WOW! I am so grateful… if you have not donated this year and would still like to, it would be great to get that number over $7,000. You can still donate at http://www.pmc.org/as0171.

OKAY – enough with the fundraising, lets get to some fun pictures of my 2010 Pan-Mass Challenge weekend, courtesy of my sister-in-law. These pics were all taken at the Wareham waterstop, which is the 4th stop of day 1 of the PMC. It also happens to be at the 100-mile mark. Last year, the tradition of our team meeting up to enjoy some fresh pie started. Oh, how we all look forward to this stop! Thanks to Kathi Nelson for making it so special!

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Thanks to all of you have supported me again this year.

What The PMC Opening Ceremonies is All About

Every year, I try and get my supporters to watch the PMC Opening Ceremonies show on NECN. This year’s 30 minute live show from Sturbridge, with yours truly in attendance, was excellent. The highlight was the interview with 7-time PMCer, cancer survivor Senator John Kerry and some guy named Scott.

In the 30 minutes prior to going live with the show on NECN, there is a little pre-game show to get the PMCers revved up. PMC Founder Billy Starr leads the proceedings, throwing out lots of big numbers. There are many moving speeches, and many accolades are given. For the first time ever, I have found a video of this pre-Opening Ceremony show that I want to share with you. The best part of this 35 minute clip starts at 15:20. I just watched cancer survivor Carrie Copescella speech again, and I cried again.

Around minute 14, there is a call for all Living Proof riders to stand. You don’t see me on this video, but you better believe I was standing tall and proud. Fourteen years and counting!

I hope you enjoy this video – it shows the true PMC spirit.

Thanks to David Hellman for posting this video on Vimeo.

Have you seen Jack?

Seeing Jack is a very special part of PMC weekend. If it weren’t for the PMC, I probably would never have heard of Jack. I learned of Jack back in 2007 (you will find him on the initial screenshot of the video below and  at 41 seconds of the video)

Jack O’Riordan was 1 year old when he was diagnosed with cancer, Wilms’ Tumor (a pediatric kidney cancer).  He had a kidney removed and metastases to his lungs three months later that required him to undergo 30 months of chemotherapy and radiation at Dana-Farber before kindergarten.

After that, with his mom’s help, he would make signs to hold up at the Brewster waterstop on Sunday of the PMC.  Here are some examples of what they would say:

“Thank You Riders, I made it because of you”

“I am 4 now because of you”

“I am 5 and alive”

“I Get to Be 6 because of you”

“I am 8 now because of you”

and this year,

Team Forza-G with Jack in Brewster

As nearly half of the members of Team Forza-G took our picture next with Jack, he gave us blue wristbands, similar to the Livestrong bracelets, that said “Thank You PMC Riders, Jack”. Next year, I learned from Jack as we took our picture with him, it is going to be a little bit trickier to find Jack at the Brewster waterstop on Sunday of the PMC. For the first time in 13 years, it is likely that he won’t be standing there with his sign and taking pictures with all of the cyclists who are so inspired by him.

That is because next year, when he is 15 years old, Jack goes from PMC volunteer and inspiration to Pan Mass Challenge Living Proof Rider! Way to go Jack – can’t wait to see you on the road.

>> read more about Jack and see pics of his signs