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Pan Mass Challenge
Last year I rode The Pan-Mass Challenge, a two-day, 192-mile cycling event that raises money in support of the Jimmy Fund and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I rode the PMC for my friend Paul Schaye who has cancer, and for the record, he says it sucks, and just in case you had any doubt, he plans on fighting and he's going to "win".
Paul says, it's not easy to talk about and even harder to write about having cancer. Cancer is something other people get. Paul rides bikes (yes, a Serotta) and does triathlons, raises money for cancer, he shouldn't have cancer, but he does.
One of the reasons that writing about cancer is so difficult is that it makes things so much more official and concrete and I would prefer if "his cancer" wasn't either of those things. However, it is, so I have no choice and must talk about it, and I recommend the same to you if, God forbid, you ever find yourself in the same position.
Talking about it is how Paul found the best doctors in the country for his specific cancer, and how he learned about treatment options and, what he should and shouldn't be doing. Talking about it is also, how I am going to get you to help "Paul's Posse" in the fight against a cancer called "GIST".
Paul learned those initials and what they stand for, Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor in October 2006. This new chapter in his life began when his doctor called Paul and said, he saw something on his liver and he was not happy about it.
It was the telephone call that no one ever wants to get, the call that changes everything, the call that literally redefines your life.
The call led to an appointment, which led to a test and then a scan, which led to more calls, appointments, tests and scans, and when the dust settled, around 72 hours after the original call, he got the verdict.
Stage IV stomach cancer that had spread to his liver.
Numerous calls appointments and questions later, he started treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering with Dr. Gary Schwartz. Believe it or not, his diagnosis was, relatively speaking, good news. As cancers go, GIST is more treatable than Pancreatic or Liver cancer, and is less deadly than Lung cancer. The bad news was the fact that it has already spread.
Pretty much regardless of other issues, the initial treatment for GIST is a drug called Gleevec, which does not "cure" this, but will buy him time, hopefully until a cure comes along and, just this past November, Paul had major surgery to remove the tumors from his liver and stomach. He is Thriving and back in training, (you might even catch him doing loops in Central Park). However, the longer-term prognosis isn't good. It's an event he didn't sign up for, something he'll battle like anything else in his life.
As for the ride itself, I am again making the trip with a group of friends who are known on the road as "Paul's Posse." All the money we raise will again go directly to support the research of Dr. George D. Demetri, the world's leading authority on GIST. We have even convinced George, to ride in the PMC again!
Therefore, on Aug. 2nd, I will start the Pan Mass challenge. I've taken this challenge seriously, and I can tell you that now, more than ever, I want to be a part of the effort to search for a solution, and I am hoping that you want to be a part of it too. For my part, I am asking myself to send out countless letters raising money, train hard and do the ride. For your part, I'm asking you to make a pledge to the cause.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a more worthy and leaner organization. In 2007, 100% percent of all funds raised by PMC riders went directly to the Jimmy Fund. More importantly, 100% percent of the monies raised by Paul's Posse this year will go directly to the Dr. George D. Demetri at Fan-Farber.
I truly believe somewhere along the road between Sturbridge and Provincetown lies a cure for cancer, maybe even for Paul. You can help us find it.
Your tax-deductible check can be made payable to PMC/Jimmy Fund and you can mail it to me. Alternatively, you can use your credit card to make a donation on line
www.pmc.org
. If you have questions please do not hesitate to call me at 212-706-0025 or e-mail signaturecycles@gmail.com .
Thanks for joining the battle.
Gratefully,
Paul Levine
World's Premier Custom Bicycle Studios
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