Westwood PMC Riders Find Inspiration In Volunteer
WESTWOOD (CBS) -- In Westwood, the next generation of Pan-Mass Challenge riders find inspiration in their biggest cheerleader: Denise Singleton.
Denise launched the event eight years ago. Now 500 kids ride and raise money for Dana Farber every spring. An accomplishment so impressive the Boston Celtics recognized Denise as one of the "Heroes Among Us."
"That was pretty special," says Denise.
For this volunteer/ride coordinator turned two-year rider there is urgency in raising money for cancer research.
"My sister is one of the people, right now, who is fighting for new treatment, a clinical trial, something that will keep her alive," she said.
Denise's husband, Ted, also lives with cancer. He was diagnosed with lymphoma ten years ago. This year he'll ride his first PMC.
"I'm really proud that he's going to ride," she said. "And it'll definitely be a challenge. But we'll be doing it together."
"I wanted to ride since the first day I volunteered over 12 years ago. I was just afraid to do it," Denise says with a laugh. She overcame that fear last summer when a neighbor who had signed up for the PMC broke her wrist training. "In that moment I just said 'I'm gonna do this for you.' "
She couldn't have known what Mother Nature had in store. Her 1-day ride from Wellesley to Bourne was the coldest and wettest in PMC history. And yet, she says, remembering her favorite quote, she loved it.
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass but about learning to dance in the rain," she said. "I feel I was dancing in the rain with everybody else as the puddles splashed."
A perfect way for anyone of any age to celebrate life.
"I rode at the age of 56, my first ride, with a full hip replacement," she said. "If I can do that, so many other people can."
Denise rides with "Team Momentum." Their pedal partner is 8 year-old Allisa Freiberger who's being treated for brain cancer. A lot of people are rooting for Allisa. She's also the pedal partner for the Westwood kids ride.
To donate to Denise Singleton's ride:
http://www2.pmc.org/profile/DS0194
To donate to Team Momentum:
http://www2.pmc.org/profile/TM0235
