Teammate Profile - Fred Paine

The PMC and Me

Like many, cancer has had a dramatic effect on my family. My mother died very quickly in 1983 as a consequence of cervical cancer and my father died in 1997 from lung cancer. His death was a long suffocating battle, but through it all, his demeanor, determination and faith will forever be a life lesson for me.

Shortly, after my father died, I met Kevin who put the idea of the PMC into my head, it seemed a gigantic task, raising $1100 was one thing , but to ride a bicycle to P-town in 2 days, that was something else, nerve wracking, hard work, and exciting, the perfect cathartic payback to my father. If I ride 20 more PMC’s, I will never payback what I owe to my father, he of course, would tell me, the pleasure was all his, just part of his beauty!

Although, I will always ride in honor of my parents, the PMC and why I ride has evolved over the last 12 years, starting with what I have learned from my PMC Cycle Team PHAT Tuesday. I have met and become friends with some wonderful people. I have heard it said that PHAT Tuesday is simply a group of people who come together for a common cause, and that may be true, but working as small team, within the larger PMC team, to be a part of finding a cure for cancer is more than cool!

Speaking of cool, one of the coolest people I know has been diagnosed with Breast Cancer and has had to work through a reoccurrence - she is the essence of pure strength and grace together – an example to all ! My friend Joyce is recovering wonderfully from Ovarian Cancer, 10 years ago, I am not sure this would be possible! Our pedal partner Ethan is such a joy and it is fantastic that the wonderful Julia is turning 17. Through the team and our pedal partners, I have receive just a taste of what it is like to have a child with cancer, the strength and courage of these families is just amazing.

PHAT Tuesday has their own group of volunteers, who without asking, help us at all our team events, truly just helping the cause without experiencing the glory of the ride. The Deb’s, Maryellen, Andrea, Donna etc – their help and example are wonderful.

Tim and Mark’s dedication to their brother who died of cancer so long ago is always an inspiration!

I always owe thanks to my wife Marsha who suffers through PMC talk 12 months a year, and once May comes, our life evolves around my training for the PMC.

But just in the last year, Big Paul, Pete, and Dave have lost their sisters to cancer, Marc lost his dad and Kevin just lost his mother to cancer - Cancer doesn’t quit! It is up to us to help find a cure to beat it!

So when it comes to writing another fundraising letter or climbing one more hill, it is these images I think of that keep me riding the PMC. I mentioned earlier that the PMC was a cathartic experience for me when my father died, still to this day; I receive more from the PMC and PHAT Tuesday than I could ever give!

Fred – www.pmc.org/fp0008

PS: I understand some people reading this, may not recognize the names, but I hope the essence of my thoughts are conveyed.