Michael Fitzpatrick’s fund for Pan-Mass Challenge

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far! I closed my GFM page and ask you to use the link below to go straight to my PMC dashboard to make donations moving forward. Thanks again!!!

https://donate.pmc.org/MF0404



Friends and Family,

 Thank you for taking the time to read this and considering to support our cause. I am humbly asking for your support as I begin my 2nd year riding with Team Boston Fire. To learn more about our team and the cause behind the ride, please read on below for a great description penned by one our teammates:

“Team Boston Fire, a collection of military veterans, athletes and cancer survivors will be riding in the 2023 Pan-Mass Challenge. Our team, comprised predominantly of Boston firefighters, will cycle nearly 200 miles on August 5th & 6th to do our part in the fight against cancer. Every 3 weeks a Boston firefighter is diagnosed with cancer. This is an alarming statistic that equates to 67% of Boston firefighters facing a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime! In Boston specifically, between 2012 and 2017, 27 Boston Firefighters under the age of 70 died from cancer. During that same time, 12 firefighters died of cancer within 5 years of retirement and 6 active firefighters died from cancer. Boston firefighters are an especially at-risk population — more than twice as likely to receive a cancer diagnosis than civilian populations — with over 200 total Boston firefighters succumbing to their battle with occupational cancer since 1990. Team Boston Fire will ride for our 7th straight year to support our Brothers and Sisters who have been affected in some way by this destructive disease, and work to put it to an end once and for all.”

This cause strikes me personally as I began riding for my fellow Brothers & Sisters of the fire service and Boston Local 718 Members specifically—but last year I rode with my dear Aunt Maureen at the forefront of my mind as she bravely fought a ten year battle with cancer before being taken from us too soon. Again, I ride for her. This year, I add another larger than life character to my reasoning for the ride. Engine 16’s very own FLT Edward Bergdoll lost his hard fought battle to the scourge of occupational cancer. Eddie was one of the VERY best and leaves behind a huge void in his departure. The best thing I can think to do is keep his name and memory alive by investing in a worthy cause. A cause to help others who will fight the same battles that Eddie fought and try to ease their pathway. This year, the aim is to be able to harness the bull-hearted intensity of effort and determination that Eddie brought to work. Eddie was one of the most kind-hearted people to wear the uniform, that continues on after his passing with this ride in his name to aid others suffering fro this horrible disease. 

The Pan-Mass Challenge is a Massachusetts-based bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country. The PMC raises funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world leader in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research. 100 percent of all rider-raised funds go directly to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $831 million for Dana-Farber.” Again—Thank you for taking the time to read this and considering to support our cause.

 **NO ONE FIGHTS ALONE**