Live Out Loud

My sister, Beckie, and her husband are riding in the Pan Mass Challenge in August and sent this email. They're riding to raise money to fight cancer and in memory of our cousin Liz, whom I've blogged about.

Please check it out ...

Cancer . . . It has touched everyone somehow in some way. Some of you have it. Some of you have had it. Some of you will get it. We want it to be cured right now. So we’re doing something about it.

On August 2nd we are riding the Pan Mass Challenge. It is a bicycle ride, 111 - miles from Sturbridge, MA to Bourne, MA. No motor, no throttle, just us. I am not an accomplished cyclist. John is. In fact, I ride a Rock Hopper mountain bike from the 80’s. I’m barely out of training wheels! But I am motivated . . . I want cancer gone.

Go to www.pmc.org to get the low down on the Pan Mass. It is an incredibly impressive, incredibly lucrative charity. They give 100% of funds raised to cancer research. That is one of our motivations.

The other is Liz Schermerhorn. She was my cousin and our friend. She was stricken ill with Leukemia in 2005 and died 18 months later in 2006. Our family has lost an important fiber in what makes up the fabric of our family. We do go on every day hoping the rough edges will soften, but we will never replace the woman we called mother, wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, cousin, friend . . . you get the picture right?

We are riding to honor her memory and to raise money so that no one else has to endure this pain. Together we need to raise $6K. We are extremely aware that things are tight with the price of gasoline and heating oil. We are asking that you help us reach our goal by making a donation however small. We have until August 2nd to make a difference.

Life is short . . . 111 miles will be nothing compared to what some of us will have to endure in our lifetime. Thank you for your help and support.

To make a donation please go to: www.pmc.org and click on "E gifts" in the top, left-hand corner.

- Beckie and John Beaupré