August 11, 2004
Pan-Massachusetts Challenge marks 25th ride
Held this past weekend, the 25th annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC) bike-a-thon culminated a generation of cycling that has been funding research and treatment at Dana-Farber through its Jimmy Fund since the ride's 1980 inception.
"The weekend ran smoothly and efficiently," said PMC Founder and Executive Director Billy Starr of the popular event, which drew nearly 4,000 cyclists from 30 states and six countries – including close to 100 Dana-Farber employees who rode or helped as volunteers – and was the focus of extensive media coverage. "The PMC has always been the same ride with the same mission. Now, however, the PMC message is being shared with tens of thousands of people, and that's the reward of this 25-year journey."
The cyclists' collective goal on Aug. 7-8 was to raise $17 million for cancer research and bring the PMC's 25-year Jimmy Fund contribution to nearly $120 million. They will continue raising money through the Oct. 25 deadline; in November, the PMC will announce the total raised during a 25th anniversary celebration at the new Boston Convention and Expo Center.
Choosing either one- or two-day rides, participants traveled up to 192 miles across the Commonwealth through 46 cities and towns while more than 2,000 volunteers helped pave their way by preparing meals, transporting luggage, healing wounds, and repairing bikes along the PMC's six routes. Some 250 cancer survivors either rode or volunteered in the event, which was presented for the second consecutive year by the Boston Red Sox – longtime champions of the Jimmy Fund.
