Danvers Native Eyes Special PMC Winter Cycle Ride At Fenway Park

DANVERS, MA — Allison Pyburn said her involvement with the Pan-Mass Challenge had already changed her life long before this year when she decided to use the event to honor the life of her late father.

The Danvers native and Bishop Fenwick alumna told Patch that she got involved in the PMC as part of the indoor Winter Cycle event four years ago.

"That was my first time on a spin bike and that led to me getting my instructor certification," she said, "which I just got this past February."

She said she was looking forward to the 2020 event when in December 2019 she got the devastating news that her father, Danvers resident Michael R. Pyburn, was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer called thymic carcinoma.

Her father battled cancer for 11 months before succumbing to the disease in November.

Making the year even more trying was the coronavirus health crisis that prevented Allison and her family from accompanying Michael to his treatments. She was allowed into the intensive-care unit in November to say goodbye.

"It did absolutely take on another meaning when he fell ill," she said of her involvement with the PMC, which donates 100 percent of the money raised to cancer research. "That, in conjunction with all we have all gone through in this past year, made it that much more special to get the chance to go out and do it again."

Pyburn will get that chance on June 6 when this year's "Winter Cycle" will be held back at Fenway Park — this time out on the field after it was postponed from the winter because of lingering coronavirus protocols.

"It's just heartening to be going there after being in your house during this long, dark, cold winter," she said, "either doing things by yourself or with people on a screen. It will be really nice to finally get together with other people again."

Pyburn, who now lives in Belmont, said she intends to participate in up to four of the Winter Cycle sessions and then take part in the 50-mile ride from Wellesley to Foxboro during the traditional Pan-Mass Challenge — which was held virtually last summer during the pandemic — if it is allowed to take place, as expected, this August.

Participating riders in this year's on-field event are required to make a $50 registration donation and are asked to raise $1,000. There is also a virtual component to the Winter Cycle with a $25 registration fee and $100 fundraising minimum.

"It's been a difficult fundraising year because we were in a very tough economic year for everyone this past year," she said. "It's tough for me to go and ask people for donations when so many family and friends have been affected by layoffs and furloughs.

"But it's been really nice to see with everything going on how generous people have been."

Go here to donate to Pyburn's efforts and here to learn more about the Pan-Mass Challenge.

Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)