Needham Rides the Pan-Mass Challenge for Dana-Farber

Article submitted by Teak Media

On Aug. 2 and 3, local residents participate in the 35th annual Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), the largest single athletic fundraising event in the country. They are among 5,800 cyclists who will ride with the collective goal of raising $40 million to support adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund.

Among the thousands of cyclists are more than 60 from Needham.

They are: Peter Antoszyk; Bruce Barnett; Bob Bechek; Sally Bernstein; Haldon Bryer; Joseph Cargile; Michael Chambers; Laura Collins; Nicole Connolly; Joseph Cuccinelli; Kevin Daly; Sylvia Dandrata; Jon Du Bois; Jim Dufort; David Eisenberg; Josh Eisenberg; Robert Ernst; Thom Faria; Beata Fernandez; Rich Fernandez; Barry Fish; Judy Fleming; Mark Fleming; Amy Fradkin; Joshua Franklin; Gabe Fried; Meredith Fried; Robert Gifford; Brody Gilbert; David Goldberg; Joel Golden; Adam Goldstein; Marissa Goldstein; Andrew Goodman; Robert Goodof; Kathleen Graveline; Judy Green; Gary Greenstein; Scott Hefter; Tyler Hoffman; Andrew Janower; Bill Jewett; Dave Johnson; Ross Jones; Brian Kickham; Erin Kickham; Kevin Klein; Ann LaCasce; Sarah Lamb; Gary Levine; Jonathan Levitt; Lee Levitt; Brian Lindauer; Barry Lipsett; Barbara Livingston; Terri Loewenthal; and Justin Macneil.

During PMC weekend, individual cyclists unite to become one extended family. The camaraderie shared by thousands of cyclists, spectators and volunteers, is one reason cyclists from 36 states and five countries return to Massachusetts each August to participate in the PMC.

Cyclists range in age from 13 to 90. Some are seasoned tri-athletes while others are weekend warriors having trained for this event alone. Many participants ride in honor of a family member or friend lost to, or being treated for, cancer. All share a passion and desire to one day find a cure for the disease. The average cyclist trains for three months, solicits 40 sponsors, and raises more than $6,500. Doctors ride alongside their patients; grandparents ride with their grandchildren; and others show support from the sidelines in the form of donations and cheers. More than 300 riders are cancer survivors or current patients.

“The PMC is the gold standard of athletic fundraising events,” says Billy Starr, Pan-Mass Challenge founder and executive director. “PMCers are as committed to raising money for cancer research as they are to pedaling the miles.”

No other single athletic event raises or contributes more money to charity than the PMC. Since 1980, the PMC has raised more than $414 million. In 2013, the PMC was Dana-Farber’s largest single contributor and the event raises more than 50 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. More than 230,000 individual contributions were made to last year’s PMC fundraising campaign, allowing the PMC to contribute 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the Jimmy Fund.

The PMC 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. Cyclists choose from 12 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 132 to 190 miles and six one-day rides that range from 25 to 111 miles. In 2014, cyclists are required to raise between $500 and $4,300 to ride in the PMC. This commitment to the fundraising portion of the PMC is a testament to riders’ dedication to the cause and their belief in the PMC mission.

The PMC is presented by the Red Sox Foundation and the New Balance Foundation. To become a virtual rider, or make a financial contribution to a rider from your town, visit www.pmc.org, or call 800-WE-CYCLE. Connect with #PMC2014 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn.