BOSTON — It’s a high-energy event full of hope and inspiration in the name of rare cancer research. It’s the annual Cycle for Survival. The series of spin rides is a fundraiser for Memorial Sloan Cancer Center, which specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of rare cancers.
People who participate include people still battling cancer, cancer survivors and those who ride in honor the loved ones they lost, like Jeffrey McDermott.
“She was just the best mom and wife and friend and daughter,” McDermott told Boston 25′s Kerry Kavanaugh. “Absolute amazing person. And she’s our guardian angel now.”
McDermott lost his wife, Melinda, in June 2023.
But he says it was Melinda’s journey and how she battled cancer that empowers her family to carry on without her.
For Melinda, it began with a suspicious mass in her neck. Initially she was diagnosed and treated for thyroid cancer. When the cancer returned, in the same location, she was referred to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. There she was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue cancer, a vascular epithelial cell tumor.
“Nothing ever worked. We never really got good news. It was one thing after another. She spent a number of her birthdays in the hospital,” McDermott said. “Through all of it, she had a smile on her face and was just full of hope, full of fight.”
It was during her fight at MSK, Melinda found a community. It was called Cycle for Survival. Melinda was a fitness buff herself, so this was exactly what she needed.
Melinda hopped on a bike and pedaled, from home the first two years as it was the COVID-19 pandemic, and raised money for people like her and their families.
“She wasn’t alone in this fight and knew that there was this whole world of people out there fighting and raising funds for rare cancer,” McDermott said. “The event really became like a passion of hers.”
Now Jeffrey, and sons Tyler and Connor, carry on that passion. This year team “Melinda’s Fighters” will ride at the Equinox in Boston along with 950 other participants.
They chose the Boston event to connect with Melinda’s friends from her alma mater, Merrimack College.
Through it they strive to give hope to everyone who’s still in the fight.
“Her treatment was out there. We just haven’t found it yet. And that’s one thing that was so important to her,” McDermott said. “If we can make any difference in someone else’s life by supporting this and carrying Melinda’s legacy, by doing this, then we’re all in and we’re super excited to be a part of it.
100% of every dollar raised supports rare cancer research and clinical trials at MSK. Cycle for Survival has raised over $376 million for rare cancer research.
Boston 25 Kerry Kavanaugh will once be among those pedaling this year in Boston. To make a donation click here.
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