Westwood Residents Among PMC Participants Last Weekend

This past weekend, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) brought together thousands of cyclists committed to the fight against cancer for the first time since 2019.

Among the Westwood residents who participated in last weekend’s event were Andrea Barrett, Jamila Tahli, and Sarah Ryan.

“My father-in-law has been fighting Multiple Myeloma for the last 4 years and is being treated at Dana Farber,” says Ryan of her reason for riding. “Team Lizard was started over 30 years ago by my father and two of his best friends. It is one of the oldest and top fundraising teams participating in the PMC. My brother and sister and I would wait along the route as small children cheering on the riders and I knew I wanted to ride someday. I began as a volunteer and finally rode in 2010. I have ridden in the Wellesley to Provincetown, Wellesley to Bourne routes and this year the Foxboro 50 mile loop. While my father rode his 32nd ride this year, the majority of Team Lizard is now 2nd generation - and friends! My kids ride in the Westwood Kids ride and know they are also a part of Team Lizard!

A portion of funds raised through Team Lizard are designated to nursing care at Dana Farber, allowing for symptom management and integrative health. The PMC and this team have been part of my life for as long as I can remember, and I am proud to continue on the tradition and teach our children the values of giving back and raising these much-needed funds.

Despite Covid restrictions and the limitations on the course the majority of Lizards continued to ride enthusiastically!”

“Vlad is my late husband,” says Tahli of her reason for riding. “He was diagnosed with brain cancer in December 2008. He unfortunately passed away March 2013 after a brave battle with the disease.

When he became ill, his friend and colleague Danny Muehlschlegel approached him with the idea of creating Team Vlad and joining the PMC. Vlad was so touched and so happy with the idea as he was always fascinated by the PMC and always supported it.

Team Vlad came to life in summer 2009 with an amazing group of Vlad’s friends and colleagues. The team has been riding every year since. I did not ride with the group while Vlad was still alive as he was ill and needed care. However, Vlad and I followed the team throughout, meeting them in water stops and cheering them on.

I started riding the year after Vlad passed. This is my 7th time doing it. I look forward to it every year as I find great satisfaction in helping the cause and in keeping Vlad’s memory alive.”

“I am a practicing physician assistant and have been for almost 25 years. I worked at MGH in thoracic surgery for twelve years, so we saw patients mostly with lung or esophageal cancer and patients with metastatic disease from other malignancies such as breast cancer. I then transitioned into cardiology and practiced seven years in a coronary care unit (CCU), caring for patients with acute heart attacks and end-stage heart failure. Unfortunately, patients often have more than one problem, and cancer can often be seen in this patient population,” says Barett.

“I chose to get involved in the PMC after my mom died in 2019 from breast cancer, and a friend of ours is now battling stage IV breast cancer in his forties. I think it is important to note that this is proof that men can get this disease.

After 25 years in clinical medicine, I transitioned into technology in April of this year but still work some weekends in the CCU. I didn't train for the PMC and don't own a road bike. My colleague loaned me his bike the weekend before the ride. As I was driving down 95 to Patriot Place on Sunday morning to start the ride, I felt extremely anxious and wanted to turn around because I had only ridden the bike the day prior. I looked over, and in the passing lane, a woman was cheering me on! My bike with the PMC tracking device attached was on the back of my car, and she clearly knew where I was headed. It brought a tear to my eye because I realized that I was involved in something much bigger than myself. After I finished the 50 miles, I saw that she donated to my page because her mom also has breast cancer, and her father-in-law is battling pancreatic cancer. It is proof that we are all impacted in some way by cancer.

I am extremely grateful for the experience and everyone who donated and allowed me to exceed my fundraising goal!”

The PMC, a bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country, includes 16 routes – from 25 to 211 miles – designed to cater to all levels of cycling and fundraising ability, including Reimagined options for those who preferred to complete their PMC ride on their own.

The PMC, which donates 100% of every rider-raised dollar to support cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber in Boston, is well on its way to achieve its $52 million goal this year. As of today, riders have raised over $43 million with fundraising continuing through September. If the PMC reaches its goal, it will bring its total contributions to more than $819 million since 1980.

Andrea Barrett, Jamila Tahli, and Sarah Ryan are all still accepting donations for the PMC.


Earlier this year, The Westwood Patch reported on Laura Schwartz Zaks’ PMC Winter Cycle in honor of her brother, Westwood High alum Todd Schwartz.