The following announcement was provided by the Pan-Mass Challenge:
This Aug. 1 and 2, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) will bring together more than 6,000 cyclists and 4,000 volunteers on Aug. 1-2 to raise money for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Participants from local communities will be among those helping support the PMC’s mission to fund lifesaving cancer research and treatment.
The PMC, which raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraiser in the world, is aiming to raise more than ever this year, with a fundraising goal of $79 million.
This year’s PMC comes at an especially critical time, with federal research support shrinking, grant approval rates reaching historic lows, and cancer cases continuing to rise. For the 20th consecutive year, 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar will go directly to Dana-Farber, one of the nation’s top three hospitals for cancer research and care.
“The theme for this year’s PMC, which is ‘now, more than ever,’ underscores the paramount importance of every single dollar raised in fueling the search for a cure,” said Billy Starr, founder and chairman of the PMC. “We are endlessly grateful to every rider, volunteer, donor, and sponsor who makes the PMC possible. Because of their training miles, long hours of volunteering, generous support, and unwavering commitment, we are moving ever closer to a world without cancer.”
Since its inception in 1980, the PMC has raised $1.125 billion for Dana-Farber, making it the organization’s largest single contributor and accounting for 67 percent of the annual revenue of The Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber’s community-driven fundraising arm. This unrestricted annual funding has empowered and accelerated advancements in cancer research, deeply benefitting patients across the world.
Local Participants Include:
Lisa Weissmann of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/LW0018)
Craig Richardson of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/CR0339)
James McMahon of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/JM1284)
Anne Nelson of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/AN0115)
Rafael Ornstein of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/RO0072)
Celia Donatio of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/CD0044)
Margaret Fleming of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/MF0476)
Erin Durning of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/ED0233)
Richard McGreal of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/RM0570)
Melissa Verrill of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/MV0136)
Andrew Provost of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/AP0401)
Tyler Gurian of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/TG0290)
Adam Scopetski of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/AS0803)
Jon DiMarzo of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/JD0782)
Grayson Bender of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/GB0250)
John Smits of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/JS0582)
Emma Kantrov of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/EK0067)
Andrew Broadstone of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/AB0331)
Amy Quigley of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/AE0097)
Nicholas Rajotte of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/NR0107)
Taylor Hubert of Watertown (https://profile.pmc.org/TH0304)
During each annual PMC weekend, thousands of cyclists and volunteers come together from across the world, hailing from 47 US states and 12 countries, with a shared purpose of raising as much money as possible for Dana-Farber. Cyclists ride routes ranging from 25 to 177 miles. Included among these participants is the PMC Living Proof community, riders and volunteers who were previously treated or are currently undergoing cancer treatment and serve as Living Proof of the progress made through raising funds for cancer research and treatment.
About the Pan-Mass Challenge
The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is a bike-a-thon that today raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the world.Founded in 1980 by Billy Starr – who remains the event’s founder & chairman, an annual cyclist, and a fundraiser – the PMC has raised $1.125 billion for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. As Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor, the organization generates 67 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to fueling cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber. In addition to its two-day bike-a-thon across Massachusetts, the PMC is powered by further “spokes in the wheel,” with initiatives including the PMC Winter Cycle, an indoor spin event; PMC Unpaved, a gravel bike ride; and PMC Kids Rides, mini bike-a-thons for children ages 2 to 15. The PMC attracts riders and volunteers from 47 states and 12 countries and over 300,000 individual donors. Across events, the PMC has successfully melded support from committed cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and individual donors, all of whom are essential to the PMC’s goal and model: to attain maximum fundraising efficiency while increasing its annual gift. The PMC’s aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber’s doctors and researchers with the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers. For more information, visit www.pmc.org.