June 19, 2009 Brothers ride PMC in honor of dad Play video

(NECN: Lauren Collins, Londonderry, NH) - What do you give a dad of seven who has everything, including a third chance at life? The best gift Anthony, Matt, and Mike Galluzzo can give their dad is another year in the Pan Mass Challenge

Tony Galluzzo was first diagnosed with a rare form of nasal cancer a decade ago. After treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, he entered the 190-mile Sturbridge to Provincetown bike-a-thon as a way to say thanks for his care.

22-year-old Anthony says, at the time, "he thought it would be a good idea. And he wanted me to ride with him. It was very special to him to ask that of me."

A few years later, it was Matt's turn to suit up. He jumped at the chance. "Once i turned 15 or 16, the first year that I could do it," he says, "I signed right up to do it. But that was the year right after my dad was diagnosed a second time. So he obviously couldn't do it that year."

Now, it's a family tradition, as 16-year-old Mike says, "once you turn 15, you ride the PMC. That's just how it goes."

Since Anthony's first ride in 2002, the Galluzzos have raised more than $85,000 for Dana Farber through the Jimmy Fund. The brothers, though, are reluctant to take the credit.

"It doesn't come from us," says Mike, "it comes from all our friends, all our family. Everyone just digs up 100, 50, 25 bucks every year to give to us."

Over the years, these brothers have learned the

power of the pedal, and what it means to their own family, that so many people devote their energy to the PMC.

"All the research and everything, it really makes a difference. You can actually see that," says Matt, who is the middle brother in the ride at 20-years-old.

In addition to their dad's two victories over nasopharyngeal cancer, the Galluzzo brothers champion their Uncle Joe, Tony's brother, who was diagnosed with the same disease last year and also beat it. It's a remarkable feat by both men. This particular form of cancer has a fifty percent survival rate.

But when the road gets long, and the legs start to wear, this trio is motivated by all the stories of survival.

Mike's first ride was last year and thrives on "the feeling you get when you see people holding up signs saying, 'thank you for helping save my dads life,' or, 'this is why I'm here today, cause of Dana Farber and the Jimmy Fund.'"

The Galluzzo brothers are joined along the way by two uncles, an aunt, and a cousin, all veteran riders. They get sideline support from four other siblings and their mom, a woman they credit for her incredible strength.

And to their dad this father's day, words of encouragement from all three bike-boys, "Happy Father's Day dad. Thanks for everything you do. We appreciate it. We love you dad. Thank you for everything. Yeah, we love you. Keep fighting. We love you dad."

And they expect, some day, to see him back on the road in the PMC.