Today I biked 86 miles in 5 Hours at roughly 19mph avg. across south east Massachusetts in The Pan-Mass Challenge in order to raise money for cancer research. I raised roughly $10k for the cause and with the help of over 6000 riders we raised 46 Millions Dollars!
The Pan-Mass Challenge raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through an annual bike-a-thon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Since its founding in 1980, the PMC has successfully melded support from committed cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors and individual contributors. All are essential to the PMC's goal and model: to attain maximum fundraising efficiency while increasing its annual gift. Our hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber's doctors and researchers with the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers. Read More at The PMC Website!
It was a very emotional ride for me because I have known several people that have passed away from cancer (as I'm sure most you have sadly) and also have a family friend struggling with it as we speak (any thoughts out to her would be awesome!). During the ride you couldn't help but me motivated and blessed by the the amount of support on the road sides but people so thankful for what we were doing. I could't help but get teary eyed as kids that were both survivors and in treatment now thank us personally. There was also many many signs with pictures of all the kids we were helping by riding and rising this money. So besides being exhausted physically, I was mentally as well. I really don't want to make this a sad story or a post to pull at peoples heart strings, I just wanted to share my experience and follow up by showing a photograph I took while reflecting on my day, with a walk along the beach, at sunset. I hadn't actually planned to take a photo while on my walk but the reflection in the thin layer of water on the sand beach really stood out to me as a way to express how I felt at the moment and still feel now.
Photo taken with
Pano Mode on Apple iPhone 6 Plus
Phone 6 Plus back camera 4.15mm f/2.2
With attached wide angle lens
Blue
This story and photo really moved me....might be the raw emotion that permeates the writing, might be the photo? But it did.
Good job, friend.
Wow, I'm amazed by your dedication and the success of the fundraising! From all of us who has lost a friend or family member to cancer you have my most sincere appreciation. Thank you.
Thank you so much , means a lot! To be honest however I still don't feel like I really did that much, yes I raised the money , yes it was a challenging day or riding but I feel like I can do so much more. These kids calling me there hero when all I did was get on a bike and ride a few miles. that's why I was hesitant to share this and why I didn't want to make it a big deal. I love the fundraising and love the kids but I know if I tried harder I can do a lot more. Giving back is a great feeling and hopefully with the help of Steemit I can have more free time in the future to do so and I suggest others do as well , trust me.
Thanks your appreciation @smooth and others on this post , didn't mean to go on like that in this comment but had it on my mind
That's a real big deed, @blueorgy! Thank you! So many useless posts here, but posts like this - a rarity. Inspiring and uplifting! Please, go on.
Thank You of the kind words! To me this is actually a very big deal and didn't want to play it down but also didn't want to make this out to be sort of ploy to get attention. I really had an amazing day and what I didn't mention is it was my 7th year straight riding :) Every year just seeing those kids and knowing I did something, even if little, to help them out is beyond touching.
Great post. I have a friend that recently did something similar to raise money for a PTSD foundation. It's a great way to raise money for good causes.
Oh very nice, what was the name of the ride? I am always looking for great new organizations to get involved with especially if thy have a great bike ride.
@blueorgy The organization is called The Mighty Oaks Warrior Program. He and another guy did a cross country bike ride and then we had a fundraising event at a local restaurant .
I'll look into it and may have heard of it before
thanks!
Great job!
thank you!
I still say make a "Cure Whale Cancer" steemit code thing..... Proceeds from post go to same cause! Awesome what you did. Not trying to downplay it at all.
Reread that. I won't delete.... But do want to acknowledge it reads insensitive, but is not intended that way. Sorry if it comes across as such.
Beautiful Sunset !
Shooting same Canon 5D Mark III, Iphone Camera is number one.
Much Love!
Saludos desde Venezuela, espero ganar mucho dinero con esto.
You have a right to your opinion of course but Dana-Farber a fraudulent organization? I don't believe this for one second. Your argument seems to have very little real research involved and rather sounding like conspiracy theory and an excuse. First off "Dozens"? The current conspiracy theory on known natural cures for cancer is 3 , so at least get that straight. I don't really want to get int that debate here. Firstly yes I agree there is a market for sickness in the corporate world and its a terrible thing. People are forces onto medication that costs thousands of dollars a week or even a pill, with no hope to pay these massive bills. Also most treatments are extremely bad for you, chemotherapy for one is purposely killing cells in your body ignorer to kill the cancer. It weakens the body to a very vulnerable state and often time a simple infection can kill the patient. It doesn't seem like the best way to do something but usually its a child's only hope.
If you have every looked into these supposed 'fraudulent organizations' like Dana-Farber you would see A LOT of their donations go many different aspects in around the realm of cancer research like:
I personally known families and children (now actually a young adult!) that have survived cancer and are living healthy for a direct result of these organizations. So you saying that just because their are some people trying to profit off of cancer and take advantage of these very unlucky families that you shouldn't donate to any organization? So when all the money stops coming in and families currently being treated pre, during, and post cancer that actually have a fighting chance right now because of peoples donations, just have to stick it to the man and let their child die?
Your comment upset me quite a bit but I feel as though its not your fault you feel or think this way, you just need to open your eyes to the good that comes along with the bad. Corruption is all around us and a lot of time its a necessarily evil. I wish I could say that everything you said was false, but I can't, I don't know that for sure. But I will never stop giving and rising money if even only some of it gives someone a second chance at life. I have no right to take that away from anyone.
http://www.pmc.org/about/dana-farber-cancer-institute