GOOD NEWS: WITH TEARS: Red Sox Hero Mike Timlin Bikes 192 Miles in Heartfelt Tribute to Late Teammate Tim Wakefield, Turning Grief into Courage to Fight Cancer’s Cruel Grip
It was more than a ride—it was a promise kept. Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Mike Timlin has completed a grueling 192-mile bike ride in memory of his late teammate and close friend, Tim Wakefield, who passed away last year after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
With tears streaming down his face as he crossed the finish line, Timlin raised his fist to the sky in tribute, turning his grief into a powerful message of hope. “This isn’t just for Wake,” he told reporters. “It’s for everyone still fighting. If we can push through the pain out here, maybe it helps push science closer to ending cancer.”
The ride, part of the Pan-Mass Challenge, is the largest athletic fundraiser in the nation, dedicated to raising money for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Timlin, who rode with Wakefield’s name etched onto his jersey, carried the weight of memory and the determination of a team still standing together.
Fans lined the roads with homemade signs, many reading *“Thanks, Wake”* and *“Ride for 49”*—a nod to Wakefield’s iconic jersey number. Strangers cheered, cried, and rode alongside Timlin, proving that Wakefield’s legacy reaches far beyond Fenway Park.
By the end of the ride, Timlin had not only honored his teammate but also raised thousands for cancer research, ensuring that the fight continues. “Wake was the kind of guy who lifted people up,” Timlin said. “Now it’s our turn to lift others in his name.”
In turning heartbreak into action, Timlin reminded Boston—and the world—that courage doesn’t end with loss. Sometimes, it begins there.
