Another PMC is in the books, and for those counting along at home, that marks #6 for me. Oh how the time flies! This year was certainly a bit different...I only rode the 1 day, 47-mile loop and Kelly stayed back in NJ to work with her mom on finishing up some Roman shades, but I'm still very glad I was able to be a part of this great event for another year. [and with rain on Sunday I'm glad Kel didn't make the trip up...perfect year to take off!]
I drove up to Sturbridge, MA on Friday afternoon to meet up with the Team Xaverian guys who were riding the 2-day routes and to watch the opening ceremonies. A certain 7-time Tour de France winner was riding this year so there was certainly a buzz in the air and the place went nuts when he entered the room.
Lance gave a great talk and really touched on just how important rides like the PMC are and how hopefully at some point we'll find a cure and be able to do these rides just for fun, and not have to raise money anymore! You can check out some video footage of his comments, as well as a great speech by a guy named Tym Rouke who's son had a type of cancer that only 32 people in the country have, on www.pmc.org [just scroll to the bottom] . There wasn't a dry eye in the house after he spoke!
Jo Jo and I stumbled across these two bikes out in the parking lot. Wonder who they belong to? Hmmmmm.
On Saturday we had a huge contingent of supporters out in Wrentham around the 45 mile marker to cheer on the guys heading to Bourne. It was an early start, but a great opportunity to see the PMC from this perspective. I really enjoyed being out there showing my appreciation for the riders as they zoomed past.
Jo Jo, Greg, Seans, Walter, Jim, and Ian. Brian was already halfway to Bourne at this point!
While the guys on Saturday enjoyed some great weather conditions for riding 110 miles, that unfortunately wasn't the case on Sunday. What started out as a steady drizzle soon turned into a total downpour for the entire ride. That being said, there's still no place I'd rather be than riding the PMC, rain or shine.
Of course with the rain we don't have many photos from Sunday, but we do have this one that someone snapped as we made our way to the finish. Gives you a good sense of just how bad it was out there. We're talking cats and dogs people.
Once we got under the big-top tent we were able to take a few group shots.
Team Xaverian 2011: Missing from this photo are Sean and Greg, both of whom finished in Provincetown.
The 16 riders of Team Xaverian should raise well over $41,000 for Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. Job well done everyone!
The class of 96'ers [Thomas, myself and Jo Jo] and my folks and Erin and Matt.
Thanks again for all the support and donations this year and for your part in making the 2011 PMC so successful.
Hey gang...it's that time of year again, PMC Weekend! I'll be making the drive up to Sturbridge later this morning to meet up with Team Xaverian and watch the opening ceremonies [be sure to tune in to WCVB 5 in the Boston area to watch live at 7pm on Friday]. After that I'll make my way over to Norfy for the night before getting up early to cheer on the Team as they go by along the route. It'll certainly be a bit bittersweet not riding on both days this year, but I am excited to get the chance to support the Team on Saturday as they make their way along the route. I'm also excited to see Lance Armstrong ride by on Saturday as well. I've seen him race in France and Italy...but never here in the US of A!
We're going to have a huge group on Sunday as we cross the finish line at Babson College. Once again the 1 day riders [like me] will meet up with the 2-day guys and we'll all ride together for the final 20 miles to the line. Should be powerful as always and make for a great photo of the Team! There is still plenty of time to make a donation if you'd like. You can direct it to me, or to the entire Team. The choice is yours.
To make the donation to my fundraising efforts just click here, and to make it to all of Team Xaverian, just click here. Every dollar counts and is vitally important to work being done every single day at Dana Farber.
Be sure to tune in LIVE at 7pm on channel 5 in Boston [or watch the live stream at www.wcvb.com ] to watch the opening ceremonies from Sturbridge.
Thanks again for all your support and fingers crossed for good weather this weekend!
Twitter was abuzz yesterday morning with the last minute news that a certain 7 time winner of the Tour de France would be riding day 1 of the Pan Mass Challenge this year...
This is huge and the PMC has to be beyond excited. I know personally that it's exciting to have Lance lend his name and efforts to this amazing event that I've now been a part of for the past 6 years.
Since I'm only doing the 1 day route this year on Sunday, I fully plan on being out along the route on Saturday to see him, Team Xaverian, and the other 5,000+
First Saturday in July...that means its Tour de France time! Or simply, Le Tour as they call it over there. I really get excited this year...especially with a field of serious contenders who will battle over the next 3 weeks to see who will stand atop the final podium on the Champs Elysees. Contador, Leipheimer, Schleck? Of course Contador would be the odds on favorite, but anything can happen up in the Alps and the Pyrenees. You know I'll be watching...so check out NBC and Versus for all the action.
I got Kel some flowers last week [cause I'm a nice guy like that] and they had these sunflowers that looked amazing. Reminded me of those massive fields of sunflowers you'll see the riders zooming past in the next few weeks...
With Memorial Day Weekend now in the rear view mirror and Summer in full swing I wanted to let you know about my participation in the 2011 Pan Mass Challenge. After 5 years of riding the 200 mile route from Sturbridge to Provincetown over 2-days, I've decided to scale things back in year #6 and ride the 1-day, 40 mile route that starts and finishes at Babson College in Wellesley, MA. I'll be able to dial back the weekend training rides and afford my generous donors a bit of a break this year as my fundraising goal will only be $1,000. Anything I raise over $1,000 will be used to help other members of my team reach their fundraising goals. All monies will still go to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and will be a part of the PMC's overall goal this year of $33million!
Once again I'll be riding as a member of Team Xaverian. A group of men, women and students who are alumni, parents of students, and friends of Xaverian Brothers High School in Westwood, MA. We've again earmarked our fundraising dollars to be given to a brain tumor research and survivors group at Dana Farber that was started by an alum of the school.
Donations can me made in one of two methods. Securely online via this link http://www.pmc.org/profile/KN0052 or by mailing a check.
As many of you already know, being a testicular cancer survivor, this event means so much to me and I look forward to it every year.
I dusted off the old mountain bike this afternoon at the request of Kel so that I could join her on a lap around the river. Felt great to get out on that for a little while...so different than the road bike.
Weather is supposed to be nice again tomorrow so I'll be certain to get out on the road bike!
At one point we came across these 4 guys walking down the sidewalk...it's not every day you see the Ghostbusters just walking down the road. Other than October 31st maybe?
Turns out there were over at the Crown Plaza for some sort of horror movie convention. Those packs they had on were legit too...
For a minute I thought they were heading over to Subaru headquarters [in the distance] to do some exterminating!
Tis' that time of year again when we offer up the annual Team Xaverian t-shirts for friends and family to purchase. As usual, Men's and Women's cuts are available. Cost is $15/shirt.
Order is going in on Friday, March 25th, so please act now! Send an email to knowak at gmail dot com and I will shoot you over an order form.
Come the first week of January every year it is time to once again sign up for the annual Pan Mass Challenge. I think anyone who has read kevinnowak.com for any length of time knows about the PMC, but if you don't, check out pmc.org for more info.
Over the last few weeks, actually since our check presentation event in December, I've been trying to figure out what to do for 2011. For the past 5 years I've done one of the 200-mile long routes and raised upwards of $25,000 thanks to your generosity. Part of me wanted to take the year completely off, from all the training as well as to give all my amazing donors a bit of a break, but part of me didn't want to miss out on this amazing event I've been a part of for so long now. I also feel like I need to continue to be a part of Team Xaverian and to help the team continue the rapid growth we've experienced in the past 4 years since it was started. I finally decided to sign up for the 1-day, 50-mile long, Wellesley to Wellesley loop on Sunday of PMC weekend. I figure that this will still allow me to be a part of the weekend but not have to give such a huge commitment this year. It also means that my fundraising minimum will be significantly reduced this time around. $1,000 is my minimum. Any amount that I raise over and above the $1,000 will go directly into the coffers of Team Xaverian to help the Teams' overall fundraising goals.
I guess when it comes down to it, cancer isn't going to take a year off, so how can I? I've still got to do my part to help.
Of course it's going to be a bit odd not doing the entire 200 mile ride and not being out in Sturbridge at 5am on Saturday to experience the start, but I am glad that I'll still be able to experience part of what the PMC has to offer and to continue my involvement in such a great event for an amazing place like Dana Farber.
As usual, you can expect much, much, much more on the PMC here at kn.com over the course of the coming months, but if you'd like to sign up and be a part of the PMC and/or Team Xaverian, now is the time. New rider registration begins at pmc.org on January 18th! [and it fills up early so sign up now!]
My profile page isn't really set up yet, but if you want to be among the first to make a contribution to the 2011 PMC and Team Xaverian you can do so at this link here. Thanks again!
The week before Christmas I made a quick overnight trip up to Beantown to join Team Xaverian in presenting our yearly PMC donation check to the the group we support at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
[click on photos to enlarge]
As like in 2009, this was a fantastic evening and a great way to close out the 2010 PMC for Team Xaverian. We get the opportunity to see directly how all the money we raise gets used and just how valuable those dollars that you all donate really are.
Everyone was extremely excited to see the grand total of $56,000 when we revealed the "big check"...hidden under a big "X" flag for dramatic effect!
