To all those that have supported a Team Forza-G rider, THANK YOU!
This amount was part of the $35 million raised in total by the PMC in 2011
Team Forza-G Raises $289,000 for PMC in 2011
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What was that? It was us blowing past $250k raised
Somewhere back in the cold and dark of winter (I think it was June) I set an unofficial Team Forza-G goal of $250,000 and 50 platelet donations for the year. I’m happy, proud and a bit overwhelmed to announce that we have officially passed both of those goals – $250,587 in the bank with the PMC and 50+ platelet donations at the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center by Forza-G riders, friends and family. Blood, Sweat & Tears – Whatever it Takes!
Thank you to all on the Team and to all of our friends, families and supporters who have made this possible!
- Matt
[Editor's Update: as of 10/1/11, the team has raised a grand total of $266,027. Since 2007, Team Forza-G has raised $872,851 for the Pan Mass Challenge and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
PMC 2011 Video and major team announcement
In today’s news, our team fundraising for 2011 has surpassed $200,000 (ignore the number on our team page, we have $200,000 banked). Our goal is $250,000. So if you are planning on supporting our efforts for the PMC and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, it is not too late - please visit our team donation page.
Before sharing the video, we would like to send a special thank you to all who came out and supported us in this year’s PMC. We had a couple of FAQs along the route this year. The story below, “The Power of A Team” gives some info. For those who asked – “Why are some jerseys pink and others blue?” We started with the blue jerseys…we just liked the design. We added a pink version as a tribute to those battling breast cancer – in particular, a sister of one of our teammates.
For those who asked – “Where’s Magnus this year?” Magnus is with us as a Virtual Rider this year. His profile page says it all…we are keeping him and his family in our thoughts and prayers and look forward to riding with him again in the future.
Here is the annual video from John Deputy, another inspirational video that showcases “why we ride”.
Team photos and other stories coming soon!
Are you a PMC rookie?
Then you need to watch this video, courtesy of Forza-G Productions.
The Power of A Team
While 2011 marks the 6th year of Forza-G being an “official” PMC team, our roots go back 11 years to 2001. That year I rode my 1st PMC in memory of my friend, Joe Giovinazzo, who lost his battle with T-Cell Lymphoma in 2000. Other friends and I always called Joe simply “Joe G”. When it came time to put a name to the Team, I came up with “G-Force” and went with the Italian Forza-G in honor of Joe’s Italian heritage. Each Forza-G rider comes to the PMC with our own very personal reasons for riding – the loss of a family member or a friend, a personal struggle with cancer, the hope that we can make a difference. While it may be one incident or one person in our lives that pushes us to join the cause, the unfortunate truth is that we are regularly hit with more reasons to ride. The very good and positive news is that we are seeing real progress in the search for cures. It is especially touching to hear that a diagnosis that would have given little hope of survival even five or ten years ago may now be successfully treated through work done at the Dana-Farber, with funds raised by PMC riders-funds donated by individuals like you. This year’s Forza-G PMC squad of riders is now over 40 strong. Add to that the dozens of friends and family members and hundreds of individual supporters who give their time, money and positive energy and we’re talking about a very strong force.
Eleven years down the road and for the 3rd year, Forza-G will be riding in support of our Pedal Partner, Mason Giove, and his family. Mason is currently being treated at Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic. Over the years our Team has grown through a seemingly random set of events. I can’t help think that there may be something more to it -Team Forza-G riding for young “Mason G”. One last thought -when I first met Mason’s dad, Mark, he told me he would do anything to be able to change the circumstances for our meeting…to take away Mason’s cancer. At the same time, he said he wouldn’t want to change meeting all of the incredible doctors, nurses and others he has met along the way. I know what Mark means- I would do anything to change the circumstances that started me on this path, but I wouldn’t want to miss out on the incredible love and friendships -and experiencing the goodness in so many people along this road.
If you’d like to donate to our Forza-G team account, you can click on the e-Gift tab and use our Team account Number “TF0086”. You can also donate to an individual rider by using their e-Gift ID number. To find out more about Team Forza-G and/or how you can get more involved, please email me at forza-g@comcast.net. You can also join our Forza-G group on Facebook.
Thank you again for your support!
Matt Dillis (team founder)
FORZA-G/PMC Night at Pittsfield Colonials
Wahconah Park (Image via Wikipedia)
On July 20th, The Pittsfield Colonials (Can American Baseball League) is hosting the FORZA-G/PMC Night at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield. We have tickets to sell for $7/each and a portion of the proceeds go to The Dana Farber Cancer Institute. We will also be selling t-shirts, raffling off Red Sox tickets and having a grand ole time. We may even be able to ride our bikes onto the field!!
RSVP here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200097173359440
Get your donations in!
2010 Official PMC Team Forza-G Photo
The deadline for our team members to reach their minimum fundraising is coming quickly – it is only 1 week away (October 1st). If you have not yet donated to your favorite Team Forza-G team member for the 2010 Pan-Mass Challenge, please do it today!
Our team has raised $173,129.83 to date in 2010. Please help us reach our goal of making our goal of $180,000.
To all of those who have already donated, THANK YOU for helping make this our best year of contribution to the Jimmy Fund yet. Team Forza-G has made over $577,000 in contributions to the Pan-Mass Challenge and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in 5 years – ever one of those dollars has gone to life-saving cancer treatment and research. This money has saved lives – thank you for giving!
Thoughts and Pics from 2010 PMC Weekend
As our team fundraising for 2010 speeds past $150,000, Team Forza-G is reflecting back on the 2010 Pan Mass Challenge ride weekend.
Here are some favorite memories shared by our teammates:
Steve Muller (PMC Rookie): “It is not enough to say what a great weekend I had. It was truly an inspirational event. I had the post PMC depression yesterday just like Allison, I could go again this weekend… I will be back next year. Thanks to everyone who helped me along the way.”
Matthew Callahan (another Rookie): “I would also like to thank everyone for all your support. It was one of the greatest experiences I have ever had in my life and feel blessed to have been part of it as well as part of a great group of teammates. See some of you soon however see all of you next year for the event.”
“My special memory was riding through Wellfleet (I think) hot and very tired but then riding past the photos of the kids with cancer and realizing that I had to finish no matter how I felt. Also–riding along with Cape Cod Canal at 5 am and watching a perfect sunrise….Peace, John (Hudson)”
Joe Tack: Mark & our Pedal Partner Mason (Giove) being at the lunch stop. It was a surprise that he showed up given that his wife & newborn baby girl were still in the hospital. Seeing Mason running around and playing happily was definitely a powerful reminder of why we ride.
Andy Seguin (Living Proof/4-time PMC rider): My favorite part of the ride was being in a train of Pink Forza-G jerseys, riding along with many of my teammates, thinking about my mom (another Living Proof), aunt, and grandmother who all have battled breast cancer. It was such a keen way of honoring the women in our lives who have fought breast cancer and I received so many complements on the road about our new jersey.
Here is our official team photo, not everyone was present, but we got a pretty solid showing for a 5:45 PM photo on a day that started for many at 3:45 AM.
2010 Official PMC Team Forza-G Photo
As always, thanks to all of our families, friends, and sponsors who make it possible for us to enjoy the camaraderie of PMC weekend.
2010 PMC Video
John Deputy of MetroDesign, PMC photographer and videographer, created this wonderful video that was part of the 2010 PMC Opening Ceremony live show on NECN last week. More Team Forza-G pics and stories from a tremendous 2010 PMC weekend coming soon.
Here is the 2010 Team Forza-G Roster
Teammates in the fight against cancer!
| Team Member | Years Riding PMC |
| Susan Arapoff | 3 |
| Gregory Babich | 3 |
| Magnus Backstedt | 2 |
| Rick Bowe | 17 |
| Donald Brais | 8 |
| Leon Brink | 3 (virtual rider in 2010) |
| Matthew Callahan | 1 |
| Doug Ching | 18 |
| Matt Dillis | 10 |
| christopher fenton | 4 |
| Thomas Graham | 3 |
| Jeffrey Grandchamp | 1 |
| John Hudson | 1 |
| James Kelso | 6 |
| Peter Lovett | 6 |
| Martin Mccrossan | 1 |
| Kevin Mitts | 1 |
| Jonathan Molk | 1 |
| Chuck Mollor | 7 |
| Steven Muller | 1 |
| Brian Nelson | 2 |
| Jim O’Connor | 2 |
| James Partridge | 7 |
| Alexa Pozniak | 2 |
| Gert Reynaert | 4 |
| Allison Schier | 1 |
| Jaime Schier | 8 |
| Andy Seguin | 4 |
| Craig Smith | 3 |
| Samuel Smith | 1 |
| Joseph Tack | 6 |
| Steve Wendel | 3 |
