By Christopher Tremblay

During the early 2000’s, Diana Dorci began working at the Boston Children’s Hospital. When she found out a friend was riding the Pan Mass Challenge she decided to donate, but also told the friend that she was crazy for taking part in such a long bike ride over two days. The friend graciously accepted the donation but made it known that Dorci would be on a bike the following year.

That friend was right, and in 2004 Dorci climbed upon her two-wheeler to take part in her first ever PMC bike ride as part of the Pedals for Pediatric team. The team took part in the 2-day Sturbridge to Provincetown ride to help ease the burden of families with children dealing with cancer. Although the ride is usually around 192 miles, Dorci noted that there seemed to be a lot of detours that year and the ride was closer to 200 than the 192 as posted.

Now, 20 years later, Dorci is still participating in the event, although she will not be riding, so to speak; she will be volunteering at the Walpole water station. Since she lives relatively close, she will be riding her bike to and from her home to the location.

“That first year, I really didn’t know anything about the event in terms of what it took to be a part of it,” Dorci said. “It sounded totally ridiculous to me that someone would be willing to sit on a bike for two days. I began riding with Kristen (her friend) that year, but somehow, she got lost, but we were able to reconnect and finish the ride together.”

Although Dorci found the ride to be exciting, she experienced a lot of hurt throughout the ride. She noted that she was riding a hybrid bike that first year and it was much heavier than the bikes most of the other bikers were riding, which was partially the cause of her pain. 

“I may have been in pain, but all the people at the stops were so invigorating and kept you going,” Dorci said. “You get there and jump off your bike to get some water and you’re feeling very happy and forget about the pain you were just in, but you have to eventually get back on your bike and you suddenly realize the pain is back.”

About a week after her first ride with the PMC, Dorci decided to take advantage of the tax-free weekend and purchased herself a good road bike. She was still unsure of the ride, but wanted to give it a second chance and see what the course would be like with the proper bike. Riding in her second stint with the PMC upon a road bike, she was much more content, and like so many others, was hooked.

“There was a week we were staying in Barnstable near the bike path and I told my ex-husband let’s rent the bikes and go for a ride,” Dorci said. “It was in my blood and I wasn’t going to stop.”

In 2007, Dorci decided to change her route. Instead of starting from Sturbridge, she began the ride at Wellesley. It made much more sense for her to begin here as it was closer to her home and she could sleep in her own bed instead of staying overnight closer to Sturbridge. The move not only made more sense, but it also made the ride more enjoyable for her.

One of the reasons the Norwood native has continued to earn money for the Jimmy Fund is the children. Three of her co-riders had lost children to cancer; one of them is buried at a cemetery along the route, so they stop there each year. Then in 2021, her ex-husband was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and he had been a big supporter of her riding the event through the years.

Although she is only volunteering this year, Dorci says she doesn’t see herself stopping.

“It’s a big-time commitment with all the training, but it is such a worthy cause,” Dorci said. “I can’t see me retiring my bike just yet and I am sure once I see those bikes roll up to the water stop things will change and I’ll find myself back on my bike next year. One way or another, I’ll be involved in the PMC in some capacity; it’s hard to see myself not being involved.”

During her 20-year association with the PMC, Dorci has raised over $100,000 for the event, and at the time of this writing was at $104,167.

Pictures courtesy of Diana Dorci