Once again our community is rallying around a family faced with a cancer diagnosis.

I don’t know the family very well, and I would never claim to know the depths of the pain, fear or hope for a cure that the parents are feeling as they take on this new and unwelcome challenge. But I will lay claim to some of the anger – because it’s just fucking enough.

It’s just enough that another family is contemplating the loss of someone so dear. It’s just enough that life is on hold while the troops are being rallied and the attack is being set. It’s just enough that another family is sharing “good news” about a diagnosis that isn’t as bad as it could be, but is still awful. It’s just enough that our community has to show once again how awesome it is (and why I’m never moving).

It’s just fucking enough.

It’s also amazing motivation as I, and so many others, start our training for the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

One of the traditions of the PMC is to wear the official jersey on Day 1, and your own kit (or that of your fundraising team) for Day 2. Contemplating my kit for the second day, I wanted something that reflected my anger. No pinks, or purples, or pastels. No flowers, or ribbons, or feminine looking outlines.

Enter the Braveheart kit from Betty Designs – it’s black, it’s grey, it has wings, a skull, a heart and a big ass sword.

Pretty good, right?

Riding today, I contemplated the time left between now and our ride in August. While, with the help of my community, in particular the Manic Mommies listeners, I’ve raised the mandatory minimum ($4,500), it doesn’t feel like enough. So I’m upping my goal, aiming to raise $7,500 to reach the Heavy Hitters level.

Because it’s just fucking enough.

Founded in 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is an annual bike-a-thon that today raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. 100% of rider raised funds are donated to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

You can help me reach my new goal by making a donation through my PMC page, or make a purchase from Betty Designs using my referral link  and 5% of your purchase will go to my account.