By Susan Clark
Staff Writer

At the starting line of the Pan- Mass Challenge, Henry Moore School custodian Roy Dennehy and his riding partner, Bennett Rudomen, have one thing on their minds - finishing the 85- mile trek so others can win their fight against cancer.

Henry Moore School custodian Roy Dennehy put a patchon his riding outfit to let everyone know who the real heroes and saints are – Carol Shepard and Canaan Bernier, two Candia students who are fighting a battle with cancer. Dennehyand his team took part in the Saturday, Aug. 6, Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer reaearch. (Susan Clark Photo)

"Every year, we ask God to just let us get through the challenge without getting a flat or falling off our bikes," Dennehy said. "So far, that's the way it has worked."

On Saturday, Aug. 6, Dennehy of Windham and Rudomen of Stoneham, Mass., completed their fifth annual ride to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Although the team tries to ride for a cause each year, the 2005 challenge was special for Dennehy, he said.

As a cancer survivor, Dennehy, 60, rode in honor of second- grader Carol Shepard and third-grader Canaan Bernier, two Henry Moore School students who are suffering with cancer.

"Both are courageously battling cancer each day of their lives," Dennehy said. "They are a constant inspiration to their classmates and teachers with their positive will to win their battle over this terrible disease."

Symbolically, Carol and Canaan went along with the team as it rode through Massachusetts for on Dennehy's riding outfit was a photograph of him with Carol and Canaan. The cloth patch was designed and sewn by teacher Heidi Hawks.

This support, he said, was representative of the many parents, students and staff at Henry Moore School who helped raise about $3,000 for cancer research.

While Dennehy took on the "Ride for Carol and Canaan," Rudomen remembered his wife, Nancy, who died at the age of 41 of cancer.

"She left four kids," Dennehy said, who also carries a list of 1,000 names of cancer survivors, including the relatives of everyone who supports him.

Also, the team's ride is just one way Dennehy can teach children the importance of helping others.

During the past school year, Carol and Canaan's teachers asked Dennehy to bring his bike to school for show and tell. After the presentation, Dennehy asked the children whether they knew what a hero and saint were.

"I explained to them that they had two children in their classes that are heroes and saints, and they are Carol and Canaan," he said.

The ride was easy, he said, but training was the real the challenge.

"Two to three times a week, I bike home from the Moore School to Windham, about 30 miles. It takes about two hours all back roads," Dennehy said, who prefers running to riding a bike. "Biking is a great crosstrainer for me. I'm in better shape."

With the challenge behind him for this year, Dennehy said he is glad to have taken part in such as great cause.

"I was so blessed and humbled to be able to ride those 85 miles in their honor to benefit cancer research at Dana-Farber, so on day we will have a world without cancer."

Donations for the Pan-Mass Challenge are still being accepted. Those interested can make checks payable to PMC-Jimmy Fund and send to Roy Dennehy, in care of Henry Moore School, 12 Deerfield Road, Candia, NH 03034.