Rarely have I met anyone who doesn't love to show up at their annual traditions.
Looking forward to celebrating with friends and family anchored by a good meal or an adventure pushes me to buy that plane ticket to Thanksgiving, spend all day cooking to host a holiday or train my butt off to show up at my annual biking fundraiser.
But what if showing up at the "event" puts you at risk of a job, your health, or your relationship or even your life? No question, you'd have to ask yourself -- how much does this mean to me? Maybe I could just send a check?
This year I had to ask myself, how much risk and misery I was willing to accept to be part of a tradition that I have participated in for 28 years -- the Pan Mass Challenge. This one weekend bike event raises money for cancer research at Dana Farber -- and this year is committed to a $40 million dollar goal.
The event is a two-day 194-mile bike ride across Massachusetts from Sturbridge, Mass to Provincetown. For 25 years I have ridden the entire 194-mile event. These past three years I have opted for the one-day ride of 84 miles from Wellesley to Bourne.
No matter the distance, the weather or life event that has tempted me to opt-out -- I've never regretted showing up.
Unfortunately, for the first time this summer weather.com was accurate in their forecast. Saturday morning as we rode out of Wellesley in 90 percent humidity and 69-degree temps, as predicted, within one-hour we were pelted by rain, which did not let up for the entire ride. The temperature dropped to a cold chill of who knows -- maybe 62 degrees about 30 miles from our finish. It was brutal and the most challenging ride I have done in my 28 years. It was the "coldest sustained rain in the 35 history of the PMC." That said -- I showed up for the ride knowing these were going to be the riding conditions as I was fully committed to the cause.
On the road survival ruled. I left my group, unable to wait at water stops as the chill of the day threatened to settle into my bones. With fogged glasses, clammy cold and ineffective rain gear layered with the dirt spitting off the tires of the riders in front of me - every pedal stroke required full on focus.
Chilled to the bone I zeroed in on pictures pinned to the shirts of the riders around me. Pictures of moms, dads, kids, and friends lost to cancer. I thought about the 3,700 volunteers and the 5,700 riders who came out this past weekend. We are proud that none of the money donated is wasted on top heavy administration. One hundred percent of the Pan Mass Challenge donations go directly to cancer research at Dana Farber.
Every rider has a story at this event and cancer is our common thread. This disease impacts us all. Personally, cancer has attached itself into my closest circle of friends and family and shifted the very fibers of our lives. And frankly, like so many, I feel helpless.
This two-day bike ride gives all participants an opportunity to communicate their losses, feel the community of those who understand, while at the same time physically participle by riding and raising money for this cause.
The PMC event creates the glue that binds all of us together in our search to help one another as we struggle with this deadly disease.
So as I pedaled forward to the Day one finish in Bourne -- those thoughts fueled me forward.
I am so grateful for the community that the PMC has created which includes all the riders, the volunteers and the donors who collectively are joined in one singular mission -- to find a cure.
However, I admit that next year I wouldn't mind a little sun, a sweet tail wind and moderate temps. But no matter, as long as I am able, I will ride this event again and again.
P.S. Thanks to my husband Bill Cress for co-writing this piece with me
This article originally published on Better After 50.