On August 4 and 5, 51 riders from Dover and Sherborn will cycle up to 192 miles in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) with the goal of topping last year’s record-breaking gift and raising $52 million for critical cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The Dover riders are as follows: David Adams, Michael Boussy, Bob Caspar, Gene Comella, Klarina Donoghue, Andrew Epstein, Matthew Epstein, Rebecca Freeman, Robert Goodof, Kim Hall, Michael Hanley, Paul Hickey, Carol Hollingsworth, Henry Hollingsworth, Val Hollingsworth, Bob Kelly, Holly Kelsey, PJ Kelsey, Andrew Kessler, Rohit Khanna, Fred Lane, Heather Markey, Eric Menna, Gil Menna, Jamie Mittelman, Chip Norton, Douglas Novitch, Cindy Null, Stephen Pratt, Andie Tibbetts, Dana White, Emma White, Gregory White, and Bob Willis
The Sherborn riders are as follows: Rodger Brown, Chris Decker, Dennis Delaney, Robert Eckert, Sandra Geiger, Carol Geremia, Steve Geremia, Jack Hall, Tyler Hoffman, Daniel Holland, John Hudson, David Kaplan, Ed Meltzer, Russell Pollock, Dana Pope, Steven Solomon, and Peter Whitlock.
During PMC weekend, over 6,200 cyclists from more than 40 states and seven countries will gather in Massachusetts to participate in the PMC. Riders include everyone from seasoned triathletes to weekend warriors and range in age from 15 to 84. Many ride to honor a family member or friend lost to, or being treated for cancer, and more than 850 riders and volunteers are cancer survivors or current patients themselves, and considered Living Proof of the PMC mission.
Designed to cater to all levels of cycling and fundraising ability, the PMC offers 12 different routes, varying in mileage and difficulty, that pass through 46 towns across the Commonwealth, with starting lines in Sturbridge, Wellesley and Bourne. Cyclists are required to raise between $600 and $8,000, depending on the chosen route, though the average cyclist raises more than $7,000, which exemplifies the spirit of the PMC and its riders. Volunteers, spectators, donors and sponsors are also part of the camaraderie on ride weekend, all working together in hopes of one day eradicating cancer.
“After surpassing our goal and raising $51 million for Dana-Farber last year, we are excited to keep the momentum going as we approach our 39th PMC ride weekend,” said Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the PMC. “We are continuously humbled by the dedication and generosity of our riders, volunteers, donors, sponsors and community members – it’s thanks to them that the PMC is able to make such an immense impact on the fight against cancer. We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable ride weekend and can’t wait to see you all out on the road.”
The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to Dana-Farber through the its fundraising arm, the Jimmy Fund, and is the institute’s largest single contributor, raising more than 53 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. In 2017, the PMC gave a record gift of $51 million to Dana-Farber, bringing it’s 38-year contribution to a total of more than $598 million since its inception in 1980.
The PMC is presented by the Red Sox Foundation and New Balance. To make a financial contribution to a rider or become a virtual rider, visit www.pmc.org, or call (800-WE-CYCLE).
