West Roxbury grandfather to ride in 23rd Pan-Mass Challenge

Originally published by West Roxbury Transcript

West Roxbury —Twenty-three years ago, Emile Bielawa lost his only brother to leukemia, a type of cancer affecting white blood cells. Not long after, his parents also died, his father from leukemia and his mother from myeloma, cancer that affects the bones. The deaths were a turning point for Bielawa and pushed him to become personally involved in the fight against cancer.

For the 23rd year, Bielawa, 72, will tackle 163 miles on his bike as he rides the Wellesley–to-Provincetown route in the 2011 Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, raising money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

The 40-year West Roxbury resident will join in the two-day-long bike ride from Aug. 6-7.

How does it feel to travel such a distance on bicycle?

“It’s tremendous, exhilarating, when you see the last mile … it’s an accomplishment,” said Bielawa.
Once you see Bielawa roll his Trek 2.1 bike, it’s clear he’s not a novice. His first PMC was in 1988 and this year the ride has even more significance: His wife, Catherine, was recently diagnosed with colon cancer after being successfully treated for another type of cancer just last year. “I guess I’m dodging the bullet,” he said.

The father of three and grandfather of eight said that what has made his wife’s treatment bearable is the fact his daughter, Christine, is a nurse. “She is able to talk to the oncologists and get them to adjust the medication (to make it) more tolerable,” he said.

His experiences with cancer are what motivate him to keep riding. The course is hilly at some points and the weather is not always perfect, but that does not stop riders from participating.

“We’ve done it in all kinds of weather,” Bielawa said. His first ride, he explains, “was very hot and sticky… (then) all of a sudden (we got) a downpour … when it passed it became hot at hell.” Now, he said, “if it’s not heavy, drenching rain, it’s not too bad.”

Riders help each other through the trek, he said. “Everybody is very supportive … it’s all one big family,” he says. On top of that, authorities rope off many areas along the routes. In order to maintain the riders’ safety, cars are not allowed on several roads.

The riders who choose the two-day routes (there are a variety of routes ranging from 25 to 192 miles) can register automatically to sleep on the Mass-Maritime Academy campus in Buzzards Bay.


“It can get crowded in the dorms,” he explains. Alternatively, participants can stay off-campus or sleep in tents. “I usually get a room by myself … but if it’s nice weather, they (other riders) go out in tents,” he said.
The PMC attracts riders from all around the world and the country, as well as celebrities. “We’ve had some famous people too, Greg Lemond … Sen. Brown and Kerry,” says Bielawa.

It has become an annual event for many riders, but there are new people every year.

Bielawa’s words of advice for first-time riders: “If they’re doing it for experience, the first 50 miles are the toughest. You get past that, you should be alright.”

All riders must raise between $500 and $4,200, depending on the route they choose to ride. The money goes toward advancing the fight against cancer.

Bielawa says that the economy has not affected his fundraising that much. “Even with the tough economy … it’s increasing, I get a lot of $50s and $100s,” he said. “It (cancer) affects a lot of people, I guess.”
The PMC has been around for 31 years, and, according to the event’s website, it raises more money for charity than any other event in the country. This year, Bielawa plans to raise $6,700 before the big day. So far, he has raised more than $6,000. “It’s not all in, but I have pledges,” he said.

The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that was created in 1980 to raise money for cancer research. The challenge offers 11 routes that pass through 46 towns in Massachusetts. Since its creation, it has raised $303 million; for 2011, riders are aiming to raise $34 million for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Donations to the PMC can be made online or by check. For more information, visit www.pmc.org/donation.asp.
To donate in Bielawa’s name, visit www.pmc.org/profile/EB0004