Warwick resident Erin Taylor continued her quest to raise funds for cancer research and treatment when she participated in her first Pan-Mass Challenge Winter Cycle at Fenway Park in March. The event kicked off another season for the PMC, and it is the eighth year overall that Taylor has rode for the cause.

Taylor got involved with the PMC when her sister-in-law and Cranston East teacher Alison Fracassa was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016. Taylor and Fracassa started Team We Will, made up of friends and family that has fluctuated between four and 30 riders each year to raise funds for Dana-Farber, where Fracassa underwent treatment. Fracassa passed away in 2021.

Fracassa was a lifelong athlete and felt that joining the Pan-Mass Challenge would be the perfect fit for her athletic background when trying to find a way to contribute toward the fight against cancer.

“It started when I would drive (Alison) up to treatments, she was 39 years old when she got diagnosed and it was a shock for everyone. She was an active athlete and with the diagnosis, everything changed. We saw an opportunity with the Pan-Mass Challenge and thought, ‘let’s do this,’” Taylor said.

Eight years later, Team We Will has raised $500,000, and the total continues to grow at each event.

Joining the team was Laura Wishart, who teaches at Warwick Veterans Middle School along with Taylor. Wishart was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022 but was able to beat it and is currently cancer free and in remission. Her husband David Wishart also joined the team.

At Fenway, hundreds of riders from the area made the trip and were led by volunteer spin instructors, many of which were cancer survivors. Local pediatric cancer survivors made the trip and had an opportunity to share their stories as well.

“The atmosphere was electric, seeing 200 spin bikes overlooking Fenway was crazy. We had great spin instructors that spent their time with us and many of them had been affected by cancer firsthand. It was pretty inspirational,” Taylor said.

The next leg of the PMC will be this summer when it hosts its annual two-day ride. Although Taylor does not expect to participate this time around as she continues to focus on building the winter squad, her daughter, Caroline Taylor, and niece, Claire Fracassa, will be riding for Team We Will and have begun training for the big event.

Taylor has been thrilled to be a part of Team We Will and is thankful for the PMC’s dedication to helping those battling cancer.

“It’s really important. I’ve had family, work colleagues, friends affected by cancer. Unfortunately, I feel like every time you turn around you hear someone close to you is diagnosed. Fortunately, though, in cases like Laura’s, there is early detection and treatment and now she is cancer free,” said Taylor. “Fifteen years ago, that would be a different story. The research is constant and it is so important to raise funds and awareness.”