PMC Kickoff 2008: The highlights

Posted by Ted McEnroe August 2, 2008 at 10:23 am

If you’re looking for the best of the 2008 Pan-Mass Challenge Kickoff show, look no further. We’ve put the major segments of the show here.

First, meet PMC rider Andrew Mackinley – at 15, he’s the youngest cancer survivor ever to ride the PMC.

A profile of singer-songwriter and cancer survivor Coby Brown, who performed his song ‘Daylight’ for the PMC crowd. CLICK HERE

Aaah, kids. You have to love them. Especially when you hear them talk about what the PMC Kids Rides mean to them – and see the $750,000 check they’re presenting to the PMC. CLICK HERE

Times have changed for the Pan-Mass Challenge since its launch in 1980. Editor John Deputy captures then and now in this great video essay. CLICK HERE

They’re the state police you don’t mind seeing coming up behind you. Team Trooper Tested is the first Massachusetts State Police team to enter the PMC. And it’s all because of one trooper, and his brave daughter, Shannon. CLICK HERE

Sen. John Kerry is a cancer survivor himself, and has ridden the PMC before. But this year, he rides for a dear friend and colleague. Sen. Kerry is riding this year in honor of Sen. Edward Kennedy. Here he talks about the emotions of the day Sen. Kennedy returned to the Senate. CLICK HERE

Jon Robert is a singer-songwriter from Boston who has shared the stage with Sheryl Crow, John Mayer and James Blunt. His first solo album is coming out soon, and here, he entertains the crowd with Matchbox Twenty’s ‘Unwell’. CLICK HERE

Sorry, we can’t post our story on Jon Lester of the Boston Red Sox. Major League Baseball rules prohibit us from using game highlights on the internet under any circumstances.

The PMC is all about connections – and a common mission to beat cancer. But no one has a more unusual story of connections than pediatric oncologist Dr. Sam Blackman, who spoke to the PMC at the Heavy Hitters dinner this year, and talked with R.D. Sahl on the kickoff show. CLICK HERE

John Deputy – the editor who puts together the wonderful musically-driven videos that we show each year at the PMC kickoff, drives home a simple point. The PMC now raises a dollar for cancer research, every second, of every minute, of every hour, of every day. CLICK HERE

Meet Team NECN – the ten people who are riding this year in honor of our pedal partner, Caroline Lane of Andover, Massachusetts – who as of now, is cancer free, thanks to the efforts of the people at Dana-Farber. She is a perfect example of why we ride. (And I’m not sure, but I think we’re drawing her into becoming a TV personality. She’s a natural.) CLICK HERE

And we close this year’s kickoff with a little friendly competition. (After all, we all have a little competitive streak.) We take a closer look at the question, “Who’s the oldest rider?” CLICK HERE

Thanks to everyone who took part in Friday night’s event – and to the huge crew who put it together and made it available live on NECN and live on the web here at teamnecn.com!!