Brookline Resident To Ride In His 35th Pan-Mass Challenge

BROOKLINE, MA — A Brookline resident is getting ready to ride in a tandem bike solo in his 35th Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Mel Stoler is not only celebrating his 35th year of participating in the PMC, but also the 20th anniversary of when he first rode a tandem bike in memory of his cousin Steven Teitelbaum, who died at age 15.

"In addition to being an exceptionally kind, engaging and good natured teenager, Steven was a natural athlete and hoped to do his first PMC with me in 2001," said Stoler on his fundraising page. "Instead, I rode a borrowed tandem 192 miles with an empty seat behind me and a picture of Steven on my back."

Stoler will ride the Wellesley Century route, which is a 100 mile ride on the second day of the challenge. As of Wednesday, he has raised $5,334 out of a $18,000 goal.

In addition to raising money for Dana-Farber, Stoler gives back to the institute in any way he can and has donated platelets 539 times to date, according to the Kraft Family Blood Donor Center.

PMC 2021 will take place on August 7 and 8 and feature riders from all over the world. More information about the event can be found here. To learn more about Stoler's fundraising campaign or to donate, click here.