Brittney Tattan (center) with her father David (left), and her brother Jeff (right). (Photo submitted by Brittney Tattan)
WESTFIELD- Several residents of Westfield and the surrounding area will take part in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) Aug. 3-4 to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
City residents Brittney Tattan, Kristin Halley, Ryan Mahan and some their friends and family will participate in the 192-mile charity bike ride this weekend. Each of them will begin the ride in Sturbridge, on Aug. 3 and ride to Bourne later that night. The next day they will ride the rest of the way to Provincetown.
Each of them has chosen to ride the PMC for a variety of reasons. All of them have ridden it at least a few times in the past. This will be Tattan’s fourth year taking up the challenge. It was before the second year she participated — in 2017 — that she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Tattan chose not to let the diagnosis discourage her. Rather, she used it as further motivation to do the PMC again, and in 2017 she rode while in the midst of chemotherapy treatments. This year, Tattan is joined by her brother Jeff for his second year, and her father David, who had been riding in the PMC for several years before Tattan joined.
“My brother Jeff joined us last year,” said Tattan. “He was like a kid in a candy store, because it’s such a well put together event with all of the people standing along the route and cheering.”
She added that Jeff continued to have a good time last year despite much of the ride being through a torrential downpour.
When all riders get to Bourne, they stay overnight at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. While there, some participants are recognized in a ceremony. After Tattan was diagnosed, she was given the distinction of being a Living Proof rider, which is given to all riders who have undergone or continue to receive cancer treatment. They are recognized as proof that progress has been made in supporting cancer research.
Tattan’s participation in the PMC is not her only exposure to biking. She spent much of her life running, but when her knees began to wear down, she turned to biking, something she takes rather seriously. A 192-mile biking course can be a grind to get through, and the Tattans begin training for it in the spring.
On the first weekend in May, the Five Boroughs Ride in New York City is considered to be the beginning of the biking season for Tattan.
Tattan finished receiving cancer treatment in March. Although much of the hard part is over, she will still need to take daily medications for the next five to 10 years.
“I have such a fantastic support system from my family,” said Tattan.
Ryan Mahan (left) and his father, Tom during the 2017 Pan Mass Challenge. (Photo submitted by Ryan Mahan)
Mahan has been involved with the PMC for nine years, although this will be his seventh-year riding in it. The two years when he did not ride, he volunteered.
Mahan rides in the PMC for his father, Tom, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a bone cancer that attacks the marrow, affecting the body’s ability to make new blood cells. The Mahans have been riding together in the PMC, and they have made it a large family affair. They are joined by Mahan’s mother, his brother, and their wives, who volunteer every year. They are also joined by some of Mahan’s coworkers.
The PMC is more than just a bike ride. Each person who commits to the ride also commits to raising a certain amount of money depending on the route they take. For Mahan, as well as Tattan and Halley, that amount is $5,000.
Most of the riders will simply solicit donations from friends, family, and coworkers. The Mahans chose to host a large fundraising event each year. This year, the event was at Mahan’s house on Saturday, a week before the ride. Mahan said they count on an average attendance of 100 people each year. The bulk of their donations come from this event.
“We do have donations trickle in before the event,” said Mahan, “although a lot of people who have been to the fundraiser multiple years hold off on donating for the event itself.”
The fundraising party features a large raffle with a range of prizes for people who bought tickets.
Mahan said much of his training is done in the spring and summer leading up to the PMC. Despite how hard he trains, he doesn’t pay much attention to his times each year. He noted that he usually ends up in the middle of the pack. Most of the reason he enjoys the PMC is the spectators who come out in droves to watch them.
“There are incredible spectators almost the entire ride,” said Mahan. “It never ceases to amaze me. There are whole neighborhoods that are turned into a party along the way.”
Halley will be taking part in the PMC for the fourth time on Saturday. Since 2016, she has ridden with Team Animal, which was formed in 2009.
“It’s a great experience to have a team with you, supporting you,” said Halley, “The event is such a great cause and the support you’re getting from teammates and volunteers is incredible.”
She described previous years where she was doing part of the ride at 5:30 a.m., and there were groups of people already out there cheering. She recalled riding through a stretch of Cape Cod where she saw a young adult male cheering them on while holding a sign that stated “I’m alive because of you.”
Halley has been biking for many years. She originally began with mountain biking but has since switch to mostly road biking. She said the 192-mile route for the PMC is a lot to handle, but it is certainly doable. She played sports growing up, so having something like the PMC to do for charity is great for her. She said she bikes around 90 miles per week, on top of hiking to keep herself active.
Halley — like most of the other riders — has been impacted by cancer. Her mother, as well as a number of other family members, have been diagnosed with cancer. Her mother received care and treatment through the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
“It’s a well-oiled machine to go there and get your checkup. That day, you already know if you’re on a good track or if they have found something,” said Halley.
This year’s ride will carry an extra emotional weight for Halley. Just this past February, Halley lost a close friend of hers to cancer.
“I don’t think you can meet anyone who doesn’t know someone close to them who has gone through it, is going through it, or didn’t make,” said Halley.
