Tewksbury Cyclists Take Their Battle Against Cancer to the Streets: Part 3

Thirteen cyclists from Tewksbury are participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) August 4-5 for various reasons, ranging from being a survivor to a family member who has or has had cancer to supporting a friend or their family member with cancer.

Veterans or first times, all of the cyclists said they are doing it because 100 percent of the monies go to the Dana Farber Institute for research.

Anyone interested in donating to a rider or to the PMC can go on the website and type in their name.

This is Part 3 of our series of rider profiles. Click here to see and

Gina Utegg

Age: 43

Residence: Has lived in Tewksbury for 20 years with family, originally from New York

Route: 192 Miles from miles over two days from Sturbridge to Provincetown

Training: Gina cycles 20-100 miles, almost daily on recumbent bike. She also strength trains at Performance Training Center of Tewksbury. 

Goal: $5000

Already Raised: $3000

Team: Dassault

Fundraising Techniques: Most of donations from friends and family. Her team recently held a “Comics for Cure” fund raiser at Focaccia Restaurant in Wilmington.

Story:

Gina is riding because she was personally touched by the disease. A cancer survivor herself, she has also lost friends and family. “I want better treatments, a cure and a better future,” she explained.

This is Gina’s first year participating, and making it more of a challenge is her disability incurred in a near fatal accident by a drunk driver in 2001. She sustained head, neck and back injuries, resulting in traumatic brain injury (T.B.I) and post traumatic stress disorder.

Gina rides a yellow Bacchetta Corsa S/S recumbent bicycle. She attributes cycling as a means to getting back her life after the accident.

“I enjoy it and it makes me healthier, happier and hopefully a better person,” she explained.

When Gina was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, she endured surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. It was after that life-threatening experience, she knew she wanted to train for the PMC.

“It was a no-brainer,” she explained. 

But Gina had to learn how go from a trike to a two-wheeler, and with the help of protective hockey equipment from her daughter, she proved her doctors wrong.

While on her bicycle, Gina knocks on local businesses for support. She has also been able to raise funds at her daughter’s softball team tournament. She said the town is extremely generous.

But most of all, Gina credits her husband and 14 year old daughter, as her rock and support.

 “Anything we can do to fight cancer is a good thing,” she said.

Gina was chosen as The Huffington Post's Greatest Person of the Day for Tuesday, February 21. You can also read about her overcoming her struggles in the

Kevin Barile

Age: 32

Residence: 7 years in Tewksbury, grew up in Woburn

Route: 84 miles from Wellesley to Bourne

Training:  Has only trained twice since riding in last year’s PMC

Goal: $3100

Already Raised: $5,300

Team: Barile

Fundraising Techniques: His family owns two funeral homes, in Stoneham and Woburn. He sends a letter to the families who have used their services. Kevin said many of them have lost love ones to cancer.

Story:

Kevin’s mother Luanne is a 38-year cancer survivor and is the main reason he participates in the PMC. This will be his fourth year.

He said his mother had Hodgkin’s disease at age 20, Through many treatments, she survived the cancer and has been in remission since before Kevin was born.

As to raising funds, he explained, "the response of people wanting to donate has been great.” 

Glenn Carlson

Age: 50

Residence: 24 years in Tewksbury

Route: 111 Miles

Training: Glenn rides on a regular basis with a friend from the Bedford area.

Goal: $4000

Already Raised: $1100

Fundraising Techniques: He said he sends emails to friends, family and to co-workers at his and his wife's places of employment.

Story:

Glenn has been participating since 2008, and this will be his 5th year. He said he got involved because both his mother and mother–in-law were affected by cancer. 

Since that time it has become a tradition that he rides in memory or in support of loved ones affected by cancer. 

Glenn’s sponsors provide the names of their loved ones who have been stricken or currently battling this terrible disease. 

“I proudly display their names on my riding shirts, and last year I had over 19 names on my shirt,” he explained.

Debbie Sugrue

Age: 51

Residence: Graduated TMHS in 1978 and lives here with her family

Route: 170 miles over two days from Wellesley to Provincetown

Training: Debbie said that this year has been tough with surgery. She only returned to biking a few weeks ago. Past trainings have included riding on weekends and her first year she rode 700 miles. Next weekend she will participate in a team ride.

Goal: $7,000

Already Raised: $1795

Team: Flying Henrys

Fundraising Techniques: Annual letter to friends

Story:

It also started when Debbie met the Flying Henrys at the Deca Fashion show, which was raising money for her friend’s daughter Meghan McCarthy.  “I knew I had to be a part of this amazing team,” she said. Unfortunately, Meghan passed away the day she signed up for the ride.

This will be her third year riding.

She described her incredible experience the first time she rode. “There were 5000 plus riders will all their own stories of sadness, hope faith and even miracles. As you are riding those 170 miles, you talk to people, listen to their stories and then the crowds of people who come out cheering you on is just amazing.  I cry every year, but I also laugh and have continued faith and hope, and yes I believe in miracles,” she said.

Knee replacement surgery before last year’s ride couldn’t keep her from riding in the PMC.

Debbie said she rides for a dear friend Mary who died from melanoma, her own mother’s cholangiocarcinoma is progressing, and she lost her dad last year.

She had her own scare this past year with being diagnosed with benign nerve sheath tumors and had 3 removed from her arm in January.

Passionate about riding she said, “I feel that Meaghan brought me here for a reason.”

Mark Ansley

Age: 30

Residence: Lived in Tewksbury 4 years, recently moved to Everett

Route: 163 Miles over two days, Wellesley to Provincetown

Training: Mark bikes once or twice a week to his job in Bedford, MA. He said he also frequents the Minuteman Trail.

Goal: $6000

Already Raised: $2000

Team: Pan Mass Packeteers- So Beating Cancer

Fundraising Techniques: Mark has been asking friends and family for donation.  He has also been scouting around the local establishments. His team recently had a major fundraising paty.

Story:

Mark is riding with a team from work. This will be his first year participating in the PMC. He said he decided to get involved because many of his family members have faced cancer at some point in their lives and have survived.

"I believe this wouldn't be possible without research and the hard work of good people. This is why I want to give back to our good fortune," he explained.