Robinsons Raise $18,000 for Cancer Research

Mark & Donna successfully biked 163 miles from Wellesley to Provincetown in August to raise money for Cancer research through the Pan Mass Challenge (www.pmc.org)!

A few notes from Mark on their PMC experience:

"Wellesley to Bourne ( PMC Day One) went quite easily. Donna & I kept a good pace and beat the nasty weather of later in the afternoon by many hours. We ended up having a huge thunder storm pass right over us during our stay at Mass Maritime. There were several close lightning strikes right around the campus!!! A large support pole in the food tent (the tent was about as big as a football field) fell over and it looked like a tornado was about to come through"

"We woke at 4am (some riders were already heading out!), I de-camped us, we ate breakfast and set out about 6am from Bourne ( in daylight but foggy), destination Provincetown. We thought we were in England when riding along the Cape Cod Canal as an awesome fog had descended upon us and refused to lift. The sun popping out above the layer of fog at the end of the canal was a very cool sight. Riding a bike over the Bourne Bridge was pretty cool too.

They threw us into some nasty hills in Sandwich to start the Cape Cod part of the ride, we had to plow through them even though Donna's knees were killing her on the second day. The first 24 miles left her doubting whether she could finish. I fared better and beat her into the first water stop by 15 minutes. She chowed on lots of Motrin. It seemed to help, off and on. I think every pedal stroke was bothering her on Day Two. Not much more she could do just had to keep turning the pedals over. Hey, we had nowhere else to go.... I guess all the little physical problems 163 miles brings out are nothing compared to what those we ride for go through/went through. I guess that's why it is called the Pan Mass CHALLENGE.

Day Two was a bit harder than Day One but we managed to keep up a pretty good pace. Lots of people cheering along the way made a huge difference, especially when tackling some pretty good headwinds and hills. Lots of kids holding signs saying something like "I made it to 12", 13, 15, 16, etc. because of you" were very motivating for me. The last leg into Provincetown seemed especially cruel pedaling into a strong headwind feeling like you aren't going anywhere at all. Then, just to put an exclamation point on the ride, the PMC sends you into the National Seashore, off to some nasty hill climbs through the sand dunes before they let you finish. The only way to describe the finish line is....... SWEET! 163 miles in the books, over $17,000 raised this year and over $40,000 in total for the last 3 years. Nothing to sneeze at!"

Mark and Donna would like to thank everyone that contributed to their success
and for all the support and words of encouragement they received!