On Aug. 3 and 4, more than 6,700 riders, including four riders from Lynn, will pedal up to 192 miles in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) with the goal of raising $60 million for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Riders from Lynn include Mayor Thomas McGee, Brendan Callahan, John Coulon and Kevin Pimental.
Cyclists from 43 states and 12 countries will convene in Massachusetts to participate in the PMC, taking on one of 12 routes, which pass through 47 towns and range from 25 to 192 miles, designed to cater to all levels of cycling and fundraising ability. Riders range in age from 13 to 88 and include everyone from seasoned triathletes to weekend warriors. Many ride to honor a family member or friend who has battled cancer, while more than 950 riders and volunteers are cancer survivors or current patients themselves—considered Living Proof of the progress made in cancer research and treatment.
Participants are required to raise between $600 and $8,500, depending on their chosen route, though the average cyclist raises more than $8,825, which exemplifies the spirit of the PMC and has helped the organization continue to increase its gift year after year, despite declining trends in the industry. Volunteers, spectators, donors and sponsors are also part of the camaraderie on ride weekend, all working together to make a difference in the fight against cancer.
“As we prepare for our milestone 40th PMC, we are humbled by the continued support from our growing community,” said Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the PMC. “It is thanks to the unwavering passion and commitment of our riders, volunteers, donors and sponsors that the PMC has been able to make such a tangible impact on advancements in cancer research and treatment since 1980. We can’t wait to see everyone on the road come August for what we hope will be a safe and enjoyable ride!”
If the PMC reaches its 2019 fundraising goal of $60 million, Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne, a cancer survivor and PMC rider, has committed to donate an additional $1 million to the cause. One hundred percent of every rider-raised dollar is donated directly to Dana-Farber through the its fundraising arm, the Jimmy Fund and the PMC is the institute’s largest single contributor, accounting for more than 55 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. In 2018, the PMC donated an unprecedented $56 million to Dana-Farber, bringing it’s 39-year contribution to more than $654 million.
The PMC is presented by the Red Sox Foundation and New Balance. To make a financial contribution to a rider from your town or become a virtual rider, visit www.pmc.org, or call (800) WE-CYCLE. Connect with #PMC2019 #PMC40 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.