An easygoing boy, when asked about being a Pedal Partner for the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge bike-a-thon, Anthony Stancato said simply, “Sure.” Now the inspiration for
a team of riders, his emotions have heightened significantly. “He’s 6 years old, and like any 6-year-old, he thinks it’s this awesome thing. He’s beside himself,” said Anthony’s mother, Patti Stancato. “I try to explain the reasoning behind the program, but for him, it’s mostly a lot of fun.” The PMC’s Pedal Partner program connects riders with patients and puts a face with fundraising efforts. The PMC sees the initiative as mutually beneficial: the patients inspire the riders and the riders and the race distract and inspire the patients during treatment. In June 2008, Anthony was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The Stancato family, which moved to Stoneham nearly five years ago, has Anthony receiving treatment from the Jimmy Fund Clinic. “He’s just an easygoing, friendly, fun kid who happens to have leukemia,” said Stancato. “Treatment is tough, but it hasn’t stopped him.” She detailed his list of vigorous activities, which includes karate as the current top priority. Last month, affiliated with a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute runner, Anthony cheered and rang bells from the Boston Marathon side. Not that one runner is anything to scoff at, but to any kid, one runner simply isn’t as impressive as 15 bike riders.
Anthony’s “team” is a group from Natixis Global Associates, an investment firm located in downtown Boston.