Medfield Resident John Poirier to Ride in this Weekend's Pan Mass Challenge

When John Poirier’s father was 59 years old, he died of cancer. This weekend, Poirier, who is now 59 years old himself, will ride this year’s Pan Mass Challenge (Aug. 6 and 7) to raise money for the disease that took the life of his father and a sister.   

“This will be my seventh year,” said Poirier, who lives in Medfield with his wife Carol Sandberg and daughters Allison and Anna. “My father died at his age 59 of cancer as did my sister at her age 52. I also have a sister who is a survivor. So, in large part, I ride in their memory and in respect to cancer patients and survivors I have come to know over the years. Having been blessed with good health myself, it seems like the least I can do.”

Poirier said he has always been into endurance sports having participated in marathons and triathlons in his younger days. He has watched the PMC for years and after talking to a few riders, decided to take the plunge in 2005. 

He will be one of thousands of bicycle riders – at least 55 of whom are Medfield residents – who will make the ride from either Sturbridge or Wellesley to either Wellesley, Bourne or Provincetown in a massive effort to raise awareness and funds for cancer research.

According to PMC's website, the PMC has contributed $303 million to lifesaving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since its inception in 1980. It is presented by the Boston Red Sox Foundation and New Balance and is the nation’s original fundraising bike-a-thon and today raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. It donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund.

According to the site, the PMC is so well-known in cycling and fundraising circles that each year people travel from around the world to participate. The camaraderie shared by riders, volunteers and supporters is among the PMC's greatest attributes. Doctors at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute join their patients as teammates, riding for a unified goal. Over 200 PMC riders are cancer survivors. Thousands of riders and volunteers have lost loved ones to the disease. Still more ride in honor of those in treatment.

Poirier agrees whole-heartedly.

“The Pan Mass Challenge is an incredible event," he said. "It is a collective effort of riders, volunteers, supporters, and safety and law enforcement personnel that is beyond compare,” he said.  “On both Saturday and Sunday mornings, there are thousands of people lining the route expressing the same gratitude to riders.  It is actually a very humbling experience to ride by.”

Poirier said everyone has their reason for participating in the PMC and “everybody comes out better than they go in.”

“As a rider, I get to train and maintain a high level of physical fitness; the Dana Farber gets much needed money for research; and the volunteers satisfy their need to perform community service,” he said.  “Overall, it is a wonderful illustration of what collaborative human effort can be in an otherwise overly selfish world.”

Dr. John Poirier is a professor of Human Resources Management at Bryant University and maintains a Human Resources consulting practice in town.