Lenox’s Sue Merritt pays it forward with Pan Mass Challenge

LENOX – Local fitness instructor and personal trainer Sue Merritt has had some challenges to deal with over the past two years, with the biggest one being cancer.

Yet today, she stands as a survivor, and even bikes to find a cure after defeating the disease thanks in part to the Dana-Farber Institute in Boston.

“That hospital literally saved my life,” Merritt said. “If I can be a part of something that can generate revenues for [Dana-Farber], then I am all in.”

After being diagnosed with a rare genetic form of breast cancer at the age of 44, Merritt relied on her personal fitness, both for mental and physical strength, to speed up the recovery time.

Nine days following double mastectomy surgery, Merritt returned to Lenox Fitness, where she has been the fitness director for six years.

“I have a lot of mental and physical strength – and keeping fit along with the help of family and friends helped me get through,” Merritt said. “The message is so important.”

Merritt has been and will continue to “pay it forward,” as she embarks on the 190-mile two-day challenge known as the Pan Mass Bike Challenge this August.

Merritt has been a part of the prestigious PMC Team Forza-G riding group, which has a strong contingency of local riders from Berkshire County, for the past two years. She will be able to get on the course this year after being a fundraising virtual rider the year before.

Overall, Team Forza-G  has raised more than $30 million, while, as a whole, the Pan Mass Challenge raises more than $37 million dollars a year, which is more than half of the annual operating budget cost for Dana-Farber.

With more than 5,500 riders altogether, the PMC has become the largest fundraising event in the world, in partnership with the Jimmy Fund organization.

Merritt has been preparing for the ride this year by hiring a personal road bike trainer and training herself or with a friend, four times a week for 80-120 miles per week.

“For me, riding is cathartic – it helps me clear my head, whether by myself or just out with a friend – that’s what I like to do,” Merritt said.

Merritt has been and will always remain active. Whether the 24-year long Berkshire resident is working 40 hours a week at Lenox Fitness or raising funds for Dana-Farber, or supporting her two young adult kids, Merritt will always be there to support others.

“I’ve done a lot of different things and done a lot of fundraisers in my life, but this has become the most important thing for me,” Merritt said.

Recently, Merritt was recognized at Fenway Park during its annual PMC Day. She was personally recognized in front of 40,000 adoring Red Sox fans – as she and a group of other PMC participants rode their bikes around the outside of the field before the start of the Red Sox-Blue Jays game on June 29.

“It was incredible, totally exhilarating – best place to be considering where I was a year ago,” Merritt said as she rode off the field following the national anthem.

Posted by Tim Davis on July 11, 2013. Filed under Community Events,News,Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry