Each year, Krista Hobson, 44, of Westwood, helps to recruit young cyclists for the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) Westwood Kids Ride. As the mother of a cancer survivor and wife of an 11-time cyclist for the adult ride, Hobson knows first-hand the direct impact people, young and old, can have in the fight against cancer. From April 28 to May 9, she will host rider recruitment assemblies at all five of Westwood’s elementary schools with her son, Brett, 7, a cancer survivor, by her side. Their goal is to raise awareness about cancer within the community and the importance of giving back to others while introducing the PMC Kids Rides Program to the next generation in town.
Initially, the Hobsons began supporting the PMC when the patriarch of the family, Chris, 43, began to cycle in the annual bike-a-thon as part of Team Lick Cancer. Following in their father’s tire tracks, the oldest Hobson children, Kira, 13, and Blake, 10, started riding for the PMC Newton-Needham-Brookline Kids Ride. It wasn’t until Brett, the second youngest, was born that the family directly felt the effects of cancer under their own roof. In that moment, the mission of the PMC, to raise money to support adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund, became that much more important.
In October, 2006, Brett, then six-months-old, was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia, a cancer of the blood. After undergoing six weeks of testing and observation, it was determined that he required a bone marrow transplant to save his life. Luckily, his older siblings both were identical matches. Doctors ultimately decided for Kira, then 5, to be the donor. Thanks to treatments available today, Brett is now seven years cancer free.
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“At the time, I was juggling my consulting business and being a mother and wife, while communicating with Brett’s doctors and coordinating hospital stays and treatments,” says Krista. “When Brett was in the hospital, we practically lived in isolation because his immune system was so weak. It was one of the most heart-wrenching experiences of our lives.”
In 2008, life was starting to return to normal for the Hobsons and they were ready to start giving back. That same year, Westwood resident Denise Singleton founded the PMC Westwood Kids Ride, in honor of a Westwood teen facing two years of cancer treatments, as well as her husband and sister who were battling cancer. Krista knew she had to get her family involved in the mini bike-a-thon and called Denise. She has since helped to recruit one of the largest groups of young cyclists for any PMC Kids Ride year after year. Her four children continue to ride and volunteer for the annual event.
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During the school assemblies, Krista and Brett pass out flyers about the PMC Kids Rides Program and share Brett’s story in order to raise cancer awareness among young people. During the presentations, students have the opportunity to raise their hands and share how cancer has affected their lives. They also watch a brief video of PMC Westwood Kids Ride highlights from the previous year. Students leave with materials that tell them how they can register to ride and help make a difference in the community. Their excitement to participate is a reason why the mother-son duo continues to speak with potential young cyclists and spread the PMC mission.
“Cancer is the battle of our lifetime and I want to do anything in my power to help rid the world of this disease,” says Krista. “The PMC Westwood Kids Ride is a way for families to come together and provide an outlet for children to give back to others in honor of loved ones affected by this terrible disease. It’s a great event full of family oriented activities that teaches lessons in philanthropy while promoting physical fitness.”
On June 8, more than 500 children, ages 3 to15, are expected to participate in the PMC Westwood Kids Ride during which young cyclists will have the opportunity to ride one of three routes around Martha Jones Elementary School. There will be a celebration after the ride, which will include a raffle for top fundraisers, known as Heavy Hitters, as well as a guest appearance by PMC Founder and Executive Director Billy Starr. The ride hopes to raise $65,000, which will bring the event’s seven year PMC contribution to more than $350,000.
“Brett is living proof that cancer can affect anyone at any age,” says Krista. “His story continues to inspire children and parents in our community and I couldn’t be more proud of him and his desire to raise cancer awareness to help others who may or may not be so fortunate.”
The PMC Kids Rides are spokes in the PMC wheel, joining the more than 5,500 adult PMC cyclists in their mission to fund adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. The PMC is a two-day, 190-mile bike-a-thon held the first weekend of every August. The PMC Westwood Kids Ride will be one of 37 PMC Kids Rides to take place this spring, summer and fall throughout New England and beyond. Since its inception in 1998, the PMC Kids Rides program has raised more than $5.5 million.
To learn more about the PMC Westwood Kids Ride, visit http://kids.pmc.org. To register to ride or volunteer, contact Denise Singleton, PMC Westwood Kids Ride coordinator, at DALE33A@aol.com or call 800-WE-CYCLE.