Wayland Cancer Survivor Honored at Fenway

The Boston Red Sox recognized the Pan-Massachussetts Challenge (PMC), an annual bike-a-thon for the Jimmy Fund, for 32 years of fundraising success with a PMC Day ceremony at Saturday night's game. Thirty-two cancer survivors, including Sue Spencer of Wayland, were honored with a standing ovation as they rode their bicycles around Fenway's warning track and represented this year's 5,000 PMC riders and the countless cancer patients their fundraising will benefit. 

Sue Spencer, 48, could not hide her excitement on Saturday night. "Tonight's a great celebration of the ride, and of still being here," she said. Spencer, a Wayland resident of 15 years, was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 40. "It was so unexpected," she said. "I had no family history of cancer or anything."

Spencer underwent treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for four years, emerging successfully in the spring of 2004. That August, she rode in the PMC for the first time.

"I had these great doctors at the Dana Farber, who from the moment they met me, were just like family. Through the months of treatment, from radiation to chemotherapy and surgery, they were just outstanding. When I finished the treatments, I said 'I don't know how I'll ever repay you,' and my doctor said, 'You can ride the Pan-Mass Challenge.' I've ridden the PMC ever since."

This year, Spencer will ride 170 miles, from Wellesley to Provincetown, with a fundraising goal of $10,000. "I've been what they call a 'heavy-hitter,'" she said. "I've raised about $65,000 so far."

The PMC is an annual bike-a-thon that runs through 46 towns and raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. Founded in 1980, PMC has raised $303 million for cancer research, and this year's Aug. 6-7 event aims to bring in $34 million for cancer research and treatment at Dana Farber through the Jimmy Fund. PMC Day at Fenway celebrated nine years of the Boston Red Sox Foundation being the presenting sponsor of the PMC and included the revealing of the PMC logo on the Green Monster.

"They always say, 'Closer by the mile,' which is really true," said Spencer before Saturday night's ceremony. "Every year I ride, every dollar donated, brings people closer to a cure, which is the ultimate goal." 

You can sponsor Sue Spencer's PMC 2011 ride by visiting her page on the PMC website and following the directions to donate online.