How many miles is Ken riding this summer and why?

Greetings and welcome to my ride blog, where over the course of two bicycle fund-raising events in July and August I'll be blogging about the sights, sounds, and experiences during 800 miles of pedaling to support two incredibly important charities. You don't need to make a donation of course to enjoy this blog, but if you want to support my ride for The Anchor House Foundation click here and to support my Pan Mass Challenge ride click here. Here's what I'll be doing:

Anchor House Ride for the Runaways: Oswego NY to Trenton NJ, July 12-18  500 miles

The route: Oswego to Geneva to Corning, NY to Wellsboro, PA to Williamsport, PA to Hazleton, PA to Bethlehem, PA to Trenton NJ.  This year, my eight and the 37th for the organization, will start from Oswego, NY, and head through the lovely Finger Lake region angling our way to Corning NY and then to Williamsport PA. We then then cross through hilly northeastern PA hitting to our destination just outside of Trenton New Jersey. Joining me again this year will be my 24 year old son, Adam, which of course will make this ride incredibly special once again. 

The charity: Why do we and 200 other riders and volunteers do this ride? It's easy- to support The Anchor House Foundation. Anchor House (http://anchorhousenj.org)  is an amazing organization that provides a refuge for homeless, runaway, abused and at-risk children in central New Jersey. The Ride for the Runaways is Anchor House’s biggest fundraising activity of the year and helps keep the doors open for this incredible organization.  

The Pan Massachusetts Challenge  West Stockbridge to Provinceotwn, MA  July 31 to Aug 2  280 miles

After taking a few weeks off to rest and to work, I'll be biking 280 miles over three days in my fourth Pan Mass Challenge ride. Last year's ride, my third PMC, was an incredibly emotional experience for me- cycling with cancer survivors, current cancer patients, and people lining the route thanking us for raising money for cancer research, many of them holding up signs saying how long they were cancer free. We raised an amazing $41 million in all- 100% of that money dedicated to cancer treatment and research. This year, I am again going the extra mile in this fight against cancer. Along with a friend,  I will start on August 1st in West Stockbridge MA on the NY state line and bike an extra 97 miles to the official start in Sturbridge MA. We will then bike over the next two days to Provincetown, making this truly a Pan Massachusetts challenge, pedaling 280 miles in all.