The Pan-Mass Challenge: A Family Affair

Inspired. Motivated. Dedicated. These words sum up the Doucet family’s involvement in the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), a 180-mile, two-day bike-a-thon that raises money for research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

This is Stephen Doucet’s eighth year riding in the event, while daughter Susan will join him as a rider for the first time. Cathy and son Sean will volunteer for the challenge, something they have done along with Susan for the past four years.

Stephen and Cathy Doucet are owners and operators of Stoneham-based , 1 Central St., a full-service home renovation company located in Stoneham Square.

“It’s an amazing event,” said Susan, “and I am looking forward to my first ride for the PMC. After watching my father and the other riders for so many years, I decided to give it a shot myself.” 

Susan will ride on the first day of the challenge, a course of 85 miles from Wellesley to Bourne. Stephen will continue on to Provincetown on Day 2. The challenge takes place August 4-5.

“My father passed away from cancer in 1987,” said Stephen, “and in 2004 a good friend was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Cancer is something that touches all of us some point. Chances are that in our lifetimes, we will all know someone who is diagnosed with the disease. What drew me to the Pan Mass Challenge is the fact that 100 percent of the money that I raise as a rider goes directly to cancer research, and the PMC is the largest individual contributor to the Dana Farber Institute.”

Riders commit to raising $3,100 for the one-day ride and $4,300 for the two-day.  Friends and family members contribute pledged amounts toward a rider’s goal.  Stephen and Susan ride as members of Team Dassault, a group started by employees of a company where Stephen worked prior to starting his remodeling and design business.

“The team members help each other, support each other, and encourage each other,” said Susan. “If someone is having trouble raising pledges, the other team members will step in and help the person. We ride together, and it just adds to the feeling of community to be part of a wonderful team that has helped raise money for the PMC for the past ten years.

“This is truly a community event,” she continued. “In order for each dollar raised by riders to go straight to the Dana Farber Institute, a whole lot has to be donated, like food for 5,500 riders, hotel rooms, car services, shuttles, bicycle repair services, tents and countless other resources. It is inspiring to see how people come together to pull off this event.”

While Stephen and Susan ride their course on August 4, Cathy and Sean will be in Bourne as part of a 2,000-member volunteer crew preparing for the riders to descend upon their stop for the night.

“There is no end of things for volunteers to do,” said Cathy. “We mix Gatorade, we unload trucks, we prepare food and dining areas, we set up tents, we place bike racks. We handle every detail so that the riders can focus on their rides, and everything else is taken care of for them. There are volunteer nurses and ambulance services in case anyone needs medical attention, as well as volunteers who can fix minor bicycle issues.”

Volunteers are an integral part of the success of the event. “The riders are so thankful to us for serving their food and whatnot,” said Sean, “but they are the ones who are doing the hard part. I am just happy that I can help out. Seeing how happy everyone is to be there at the PMC makes it all worthwhile. It is a great organization.”

To help Stephen and Susan reach their fundraising goals, Doucet Remodeling and Design is hosting a wine and beer-tasting event at their showroom on Friday, April 27 from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $25 and there will be chances to win raffle prizes and bid on silent auction items. The event will be at their beautiful showroom at 1 Central St.

“Our wine and beer-tasting event is a way for us to raise money for our rides and have some fun while raising awareness at the same time,” said Stephen. “We’ve got some great auction and raffle prizes lined up, and we will have a slideshow on the event to educate people about the cause.”

To reserve tickets for the April 27 event, call Doucet Remodeling at 781-438-6225. If you unable to make it but still wish to support Susan’s ride, visit her PMC page. To support Stephen’s ride, visit his PMC page.

For more information on the Pan Mass Challenge, visit the nonprofit organization's website.