Many of the riders in this weekend’s Pan Mass Challenge have an extra bit of motivation.

The PMC’s Pedal Partner program matches cyclists with young cancer patients.

And they all got a chance to meet at the Pedal Partner Picnic in Lakeville.

“I’m sweaty,” NECN rider and Broadside producer John Vanscoyoc said.
“I don’t care,” said NECN pedal partner Caroline Lane.
“Good to see you,” Vanscoyoc said.

Under the tent at Apponequet Regional High School in Lakeville, sweat doesn’t matter.

The collective group of Pan Mass Challenge riders and the kids they ride for, their pedal partners, do.

“Oh it means everything,” said rider John Shaw of Yarmouth, MA. “If people didn’t ride previous years, she might not be here right now.”

From John Shaw of Yarmouth riding for his daughter Isabella who just finished her chemotherapy treatments, to Team Amgen, riding for young Ashley Cashell, of Tewksbury, coconut bikini, broken foot and all.

“Four years old, was diagnosed on Halloween no less in 2008 with cancer, has been fighting it ever since,” said Chris Barr, volunteer for Team Amgen.

Everyone is riding the PMC for somebody.

Seventy nine teams have pedal partners, many of them are under the tent, courageous children from across the Commonwealth.

“I was seven years old when I was diagnosed in August of 2006 and that November I had some leg surgery on my upper hip, upper femur, to remove the tumor and I had rounds of chemotherapy and then May of 2007 I was done,” Lane said.

I asked if she is feeling good now.

“Yes, I’m feeling great,” Lane said.

For the second straight year, Team NECN is riding for 10 year old Caroline Lane of Andover.

After a 15 minute stop to re-hydrate and pose for pictures, they were back on their bikes on the way to Bourne.

“It means a lot because I’m glad that people want to ride for the Jimmy Fund and for me,” said 13 year old Brian Pender of Amesbury who is back playing soccer just months after losing a leg to Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Perhaps the most touching of many emotional moments on this day, was when Jothy Rosenberg rode in — with one leg and one lung.

“At the tops of these hills, that’s when I really notice that I’ve got to stay in good shape for the lung,” Rosenberg said.

A two time cancer survivor, he crutched over to the tent, to his pedal partner on Team 9, the Red Sox team, to say hello.

“Are you Brian? Hi Brian, I’m Jothy. Nice to meet you. How are you doing? Are you going to get on a bike?” Rosenberg asked.

Hopefully in time, he will.

Make a donation by visiting PMC.org.