Pan Mass Challenge, fundraiser for Dana Farber Cancer Institute

If you would like to learn more about the Pan Mass Challenge click on the link to bring you to their website

Angel of Hope

Pan Mass Challenge

About the PMC:
The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon and a pioneer of the athletic fundraising
industry that today raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country.
The organization was founded in 1980 and has since raised $303 million for cancer research and
treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC donates 100
percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause.
In 2010, the PMC raised 33,000,000 which generated 60 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual
revenue and it was Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor. Over 230,000 individual
contributions were made to last year’s fundraising campaign. In 2011, PMC cyclists will ride
with the goal of raising $34 million for Dana-Farber.

The Ride:
The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge is a fully supported bike-a-thon — with food and water
stops, mechanical and medical assistance, luggage transportation, and lodging — that runs
through 46 towns across Massachusetts. Approximately 5,000 cyclists ride in the event.
Cyclists choose from 11 routes of varying mileage designed to cater to all levels of cycling
strength and time availability. There are six two-day routes that range from 153 to 190 miles
and five one-day rides that range from 25 to 110 miles. In 2011, cyclists are required to raise
between $500 and $4,200 to ride in the PMC, depending on the chosen route.

In 2010, my brother, Mark, completed his 9th Pan Mass Challenge 2 day ride!
I decided it was time to challenge myself and rode in the PMC for the first time with Mark's wife, Sue,
in the one day, 48 mile, Wellesley to Wellesley route.
As you can see from my picture on the right, I need to train a bit harder for this year's PMC!
Definitely not as easy as my brother makes it look!