For the seventh year in a row, I am committed to raising money for cancer research by riding in the 2013 Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC). On the first weekend in August, I will join 5,500 cyclists in the PMC ride, an annual bike-a-thon that raises money for research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DCFI) in Boston. The PMC raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country, $375 million since 1980 and $37 million last year alone! This success is the result of a lot of people riding for, and caring about, a cure. And because every penny matters, 100 percent of your donation goes to DFCI. I’ve made a personal commitment to ride and raise $4,300, and I need your help.

Riding in the PMC is intrinsically connected with my business, because I was inspired to ride by one of my customers who was fighting cancer. I didn’t know her very well, but she impacted me in huge way. She was a mother, like me. She was young, like me. She was spirited, funny, feisty, optimistic, honest & real, and her fight against cancer moved me to purchase a bike & sign up for the PMC even though I hadn’t sat on a bike for years. Sadly, she passed away soon after I signed up to do the ride, but what she left, for me, was the motivation and the urge to get involved and to stay involved.

Seven years later, I am more committed to this cause than ever. To be very honest, my commitment feels pretty irrational at times. I work pretty much 7 days a week. I have three children going in fourteen different directions. I have other interests, hobbies, volunteer work and responsibilities that consume a lot of time. There is little time for me to train and even less time to dedicate to raising money.

And yet, regardless of how little time I have to give, I would never consider giving up riding in the PMC. The cause it too important, and we need as many people as possible working together to raise money so that we will hopefully, one day soon, be able to find a cure. This year’s ride is especially important to me, because my oldest son, Jacob, is joining me. His decision to ride with me was completely unexpected, and incredibly meaningful and touching. I cannot wait to be able to experience the PMC through his eyes.

We are riding as part of Team Crank, a small, mostly local team whose best member is Tommy, our Pedal Partner of four years. The third of four children, Tommy is a seven year old who has been fighting Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia since he was four years old. Tommy also has Neurofibromatosis. Tommy, his siblings and his parents are incredible people, filled with strength, conviction, love and grace. It is an honor to have Tommy as our Pedal Partner…

To everyone who has supported the PMC – thank you. To everyone who is looking to get involved, I urge you to dive in, clip in, do whatever you can to help. I fully believe that we can make a difference if we do this together. To anyone who is interested in finding out more about the PMC, click HERE.

If you would like to make a donation, it’s easy. Just click HERE and enter ‘Karen Collins’.

xoxo