The innovative research and studies of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have produced proven results–extending lives by years or decades for many children, parents, and loved ones who wouldn’t otherwise be here today. It’s an incredibly emotional experience to do the ride. I met so many adults and children whose lives have been saved thanks to the research at Dana-Farber and the support of the Jimmy Fund. It makes you keenly aware of the sweetness that is available in life. Not only are you moved and engaged by the spirit and generosity of everyone who is part of it, but all along the road are people thanking you and little kids holding up signs saying “I am 11 years old thanks to you.”

The event itself is like a real life Survivor “reality” TV show except that it’s for real. The mission of finding the cure for cancers is real, the 192 miles of cycling is real, it’s done in real time, and it’s live. You’re constantly scrambling to stay on top of all the logistics–where is the food, the water, where is your stuff supposed to be, where are you sleeping, do you have all your bike stuff together–it’s a real adventure.

I have included two links for you below to two 3-minute videos. Invest the time, it’s worth it. You can actually see and feel the heart in everyone’s eyes. The cheering families, older people, and children by the side of the road have all been affected by the loss and suffering of loved ones because of cancer. Many of them, and many of the 5,000 cyclists and 2,500 volunteers, are survivors of cancer who are still alive because of research work that has been done through the funds provided by the Pan Mass Challenge (which is now in its 29th year).

It’s clear that with enough money, the number of research initiatives can be accelerated and the cures for numerous types of cancer can be found more quickly. Meanwhile, the Federal government has cut back. There are many successful paths now known but they need to be applied and tested with each variant of cancer. It’s that simple–it takes money to do these research “cycles,” the more money, the faster these effective treatments and protocols can be found and brought into wider use to save the lives of ourselves and people dear to us.

Your donations will continue to be accepted for the next month at this secure credit card link: https://www.pmc.org/egifts/giftinfo.asp?EgiftID=RR0088 . Please go there and give what you can to this superb cause.

These links below will give you a taste of the ride and the spirit from two participants:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6013569909118344625&q=pan+mass+challenge&total=41&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=8

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2216275061682166226&q=pan+mass+challenge

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Before getting involved in cycling to train for this charity bikeathon, I had not had a bike of my own since high school. And while my friends and I used to enjoy riding into downtown White Plains when we were 15 and 16 (before we got our drivers licenses) I was never drawn to cycling, even in the gym, as an adult occupation. Now, I’m hooked on it. I bought a 21-speed road cycle, and had it fitted for me. Believe me, you can spend a lot more money than I did, and have a lot more fancy fittings and so forth. I have come to really love my bike, which is made under the brand BLUE. It is light-weight, and has this very unusual combination of stiffness and flexibility, due to carbon fiber. This means it takes bumps pretty well, which is rather appreciated by the 56-year old frame that rides it.

I have found cycling to be a remarkable form of exercise, combined with the exhilirating feeling of wind on your face, and the rigor of pushing yourself to climb up the many hills and inclines where I have been training, in the northern reaches of Fairfield County, Connecticut. This part of Connecticut is often called the ridges, because glacial ridges rise from the low lands of the beach area near Long Island Sound, and continue sloping upward to a peak near Danbury, Connecticut. This means that there is a solid 20-25 miles of climbing available, with a return that is primarily downhill, with some variations. The trainers at Tri-Cycle in Westport are intent on training us for the two area bikeathons that coming up, the Connecticut Challenge and the Pan-Mass Challenge. Connecticut is the newer entrant, having its fourth year this year. The Pan-Mass Challenge is having its 28th year, and has raised over 200 million dollars for cancer. It is the largest single athletic fundraising event for charity in the US.

But enough of that. What I want to emphasize in this entry is that cycling is a fantastick way of staying fit and conditioned for Baby Boomers. It is aerobic, low impact, strength building, upper body building (who’d have thunk that?), and endlessly interesting in both scenery and the experience of nature. It is a sport that you conduct yourself, which lends itself also to engaging with others. In the near future, I will be doing interviews with some leading figures in advocating the sport of cycling. These interviews will be posted in audio form on the Baby Boomers Retirement website (www.mybbrc.com)

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