For $10k I will.....ride a "true" Pan-Mass Challenge

Last year, I rode the "original" PMC route, or "the long one," which goes from Sturbridge to Bourne to Provincetown. On the ferry back from Provincetown, I got introspective (which seems to happen) and got hung up on the meaning of the words (which seems to happen): "Pan Mass Challenge." Challenge I got no issue with! "Pan Mass," however, was somehow offensive. "How can it be the PAN-Mass Challenge if it only goes from CENTRAL Mass to southeastern Mass and then out to the pointy little tip of the Cape?" I asked. "Really, it'd have to go from the northwestern-most corner of the state to really be a PAN-Mass Challenge." I concluded.

So, of course, I plotted a route, which is approximated below.

"That's a stupid idea" said my very intelligent wife. "Yup," I thought and said. That it is, and I'm just the idiot to think about it.

And I'll do it if there's $10k in my PMC fundraising account by 11:59pm on July 31. That'd make my ride about 276 miles over 3 days.

I know it's possible, but pretty darned hard for me to do alone. What do you think? Can you help? You can donate yourself, but it's MUCH more likely to happen if you invite your whole network to donate, too. $10k is only $100 from 100 people, or $10 from 1,000. I bet you know 100 who could and would give $10.....

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Cheering

Today was the annual Susan McDaniel Run for Love here inn Weston. A great event with devoted champions, Margaret Randle and Jim McDaniel, Susan's parents. Oh yeah, Kevin Youkilis is also a supporter through his Hits For Kids Foundation. :)

After the race, our friend Lydia said "That was so much fun! There were people cheering for us all the way. I like it when people cheer for me." She went on to say "I wish people would cheer for me when I'm driving kids in a carpool," so I "encouraged" her kids to cheer when she gives them rides, or makes their lunches, or comes to their performances or games. We'll see if that one sticks!

And then I encouraged her to ride the PMC. It's a cheering-fest where thousands, if not tens of thousands, cheer the riders on and say thank you, thank you, thank you for us for riding our bikes. The MOST outrageous example of this is "Da Hedge" on the Cape, where a couple of hundred kids sound like ten thousand. The PMC is a unique event, and a unique experience. I'm looking forward to my fifth!

PMC Haiku

Ride the PMC
Eradicate cancer soon.
Closer by the mile.

A PMC Family Weekend

This Sunday, our entire family will join the PMC Community together. The boys are riding and the girls are volunteering in the Weston-Wellesley kids ride.

Wish us dry weather, please!

If you'd like to contribute to Max's PMC ride, please visit his profile page. There's no fundraising minimum, unlike the $4000+ I get to raise ;) More on that later. If you'd like to create a virtual cyclist, festooned in ugly spandex of your choice, join my "PMC Paceline.

If you'd like to chat, please call or email me anytime on 781-333-8686