Joining cancer fight on bicycles

Wednesday February 15, 2012

As a member of Team FORZA-G I was unable to attend the Spin class to honor our friend Sue Merritt and support her in her fight against cancer (Eagle, Feb. 10.) As work kept me out of town, I am very proud of my teammates and others who joined to honor Sue before she heads to Boston.

As additional information, The Pan Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) is a two-day, 192-mile bike ride/fundraiser that begins in Sturbridge and ends in Provincetown. Last year the riders that participated in the PMC raised $34 million, of which 100 percent of funds raised were donated to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Team FORZA-G is a team that officially began six years ago and comprises 45 riders from across the commonwealth as well as other states and countries. Members of Team FORZA-G include cancer survivors, a professional bike rider (Magnus Backstedt) who is also a cancer survivor and those of us who are tired of seeing cancer affect so many people. In the six years of existence members of Team FORZA-G have raised approximately $914,000 and expect to surpass the $1 million mark

sometime this summer.

Berkshire County members of Team Forza-G include myself, Greg Babich, Thomas Graham, Jeff Grandchamp, Robert McNinch, Dr. Kevin Mitts, Jonathan Molk, Dan Moon, Craig Smith, Sam Smith and Francis Vahle. All of these riders have guaranteed to raise $4,300 each to go directly to The Dana Farber Cancer Institute. All of the administrative and overhead costs of the event, which will occur August 4 and 5, are covered by sponsors such as The Boston Red Sox, Stop /n Shop and other fine organizations. The Berkshire group mentioned above as well as other FORZA-G teammates will leave from the West Stockbridge line on the morning of Friday, Aug. 3 and ride approximately 100 miles to Sturbridge for the official kick-off of the PMC on Aug. 4. For information on donations, go to www.pmc.org and search for one of the riders listed above and donate online.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some others that joined the Spin class who also work tirelessly to raise money for cancer research.

Karen Tibbetts and Sharon Kennedy participated in the class to honor Sue and they both donate a tremendous amount of time, money and effort to the BrockTrot (www. brocktrot.org and Making Strides against Breast Cancer. Someday we might see a world without cancer, till then we ride.

CHRISTOPHER P. FENTON

Lenox

Source: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/letters/ci_19966950?source=rss

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