As dawn broke, looking out at the sea of tents, camping gear, and bikes piled up across the campus of Massachusetts Maritime Institute, I said to myself, “We’re doing something important here…”
On August 3, more than 6,000 cyclists set out on a journey to raise money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Nearly 10,000 people participated, along with thousands of volunteers. This year marks the 45th anniversary of the bike ride that first began in 1980 with just 40 participants who raised a total of $10,000.
To date this year, the event has raised a staggering $1 billion for cancer research and treatment.
Our final destination was Provincetown, on the edge of Massachusetts, and along the way we learned a lot about the people and their willingness to help one another.
The bike pilgrimage took two days, with many of us staying overnight at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, pitching tents outside or sleeping in the library (which has air conditioning).
PMC riders setting up tents
John Warner
So, in the early hours of the morning before dawn (4:30am to be exact), we were off again, with a lot of people doing the long distances – 192 miles in total.
PMC Biker
John Warner
Riding together reminds us that, like schools of fish, humans can work together in complex ways to form vibrant communities with a purpose.
Team Daisy members
John Warner
PMC was founded by Billy Starr, who lost his mother to melanoma when he was just 25 years old.
Now, that tradition has grown into a crowd that is too big to count when you're in the thick of it. I met so many people from all over, with photos of loved ones, badges, streamers on their backs or chests, or wearing mementos that identified their “team,” who they were running for, and who they wanted to help. I saw Team Daisy, a group of about 60 people that raised $296,000 and is a powerful memorial to those who have fought cancer. Some of them have passed away, others are still on their journey. It turned out I knew the founder of the company that created that team.
One of hundreds of PMC teams
John Warner
I also made a connection to a TED Talk I produced 10 years ago.
This is an inspiring success story. Sami Janowar was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor at the age of 3 and triumphed after tireless treatment. She participated again this year and has participated every year since. I remember her story being so fascinating. Keep it up, Team Samantha!
To me, it was a wonderful example of the resilience of the humans we support, but there were so many other stories of parents, children, husbands, wives, friends and loved ones affected by cancer.
Completed the PMC with my family
John Warner
On Saturday night, I slept next to a doctor at Dana-Farber who is doing groundbreaking cancer research. He happens to be an MIT alumnus, and he told me an inspiring story. This man lost his wife and son to cancer. His son worked for SpaceX before he was diagnosed. This doctor, who was already actively fighting this disease, inherited his son's stock after his death, since he had no heirs, and used it to start a company to fight cancer. He is investing that money in this cause. It inspires trust when you see people who are so dedicated to eradicating one of the most deadly diseases we deal with in clinical medicine.
Back in Boston with two new PMC friends (that's me in the middle)
John Warner
We all know someone who suffers from this diagnosis, and when we see so many of them working together, we can sense the joy that comes from deep collaboration rather than competition.
Crew welcoming riders home – with balloons
John Warner
AI could also play a role here. These technologies can help us crowdsource and leverage funds to make sure the Bike-A-Thon proceeds are put to best use for cancer patients. We were also thinking about parallels with events like FIRST Robotics, where we've seen as many as 10,000 young people come together to work on hardware projects. We can all take lessons from FIRST and PMC about how we can really come together for a common purpose.
PMC Rest Area
John Warner
PMC biker holding a photo of a loved one
John Warner
As for the experience, it's hard to fully explain, but there's a sense of belonging that you don't get very often in life. Everyone is there for a reason. People you pass say, “Thank you,” because we're there for a purpose.
PMC Kickoff – Billy Starr Welcomes Everyone
John Warner
At a time when society is polarized and we face many complex challenges, it is gratifying to be among people united behind such a great cause.
PMC shirts/souvenirs
John Warner
It was fun to be out on the open road, and when we stopped, we were all together. In fact, one way to think about this event is like a high school lunch room, except instead of sitting in segregated groups like in The Breakfast Club, with jocks, hipsters and nerds, PMC was a diverse group of people together, with the same goal.
PMC starts at 5:30am in Sturbridge, Massachusetts
John Warner
Another way to explain it is to think about graphing and scaling the interactions you have with people throughout a typical day. If you compare that to the experience of participating in PMC, the results would be out of this world. I had so many conversations and interactions in one day that it seemed like years of meeting, meeting, and visiting with new people.
PMC Rider sleeping in the Academy library
John Warner
PMC Headgear
John Warner
First Robotics
John Warner
PMC rider licks cancer with Rolling Stones logo
John Warner
One of the PMC's “lunch rooms”
John Warner
PMC loved ones remember
John Warner
PMC Finish Line – 192 miles later, bikes hoisted over head – a PMC tradition
John Warner
In the end, we were successful and went our separate ways, but it was a truly unforgettable experience!
