3 Basking Ridge Bicyclists To Ride In Pan-Mass Challenge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Three Basking Ridge residents will join more than 6,000 riders who are taking part in a two-day bike-a-thon across Massachusetts called the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC).

The bike-a-thon will take place on Aug. 6 and 7 with a goal of raising $66 million for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber).

Seldon Clarke, Jim Morris, and Tony Otero, all of Basking Ridge are taking part in the event, which has 16 different routes, spanning between 25 and 211 miles.

Clarke, who has a $25,000 goal with $6,756 raised as of July 28, says this will be 25th consecutive Pan Mass Challenge he has ridden.

"I will be the first to admit that when I rode my first PMC in 1997, I did so because I wanted a hook at a cancer hospital that specialized in pediatric cancers. I was a father of four, Mary Lou had lost a brother at a young age to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and we as parents wanted to be prepared if necessary," said Clarke. "I had no idea that I was committing to something so much bigger than my own selfish goals. I would go on the meet the best and the brightest in cancer care in the world, doctors whose mission is to change the path of this most horrific disease."

See Clarke's donation page here.

Morris, who has a $6,000 goal with $870 raised as of July 28, says he started riding in the PMC 26 years ago to honor his mom, who fought two life-or-death battles with cancer.

"In 26 years, I've missed only one PMC — in 2013, when I was recovering from my own battle with cancer and six months of impressively toxic chemotherapy. When discovered, my case of lymphoma was dire, but my life was saved by a drug that had not even been discovered when I started riding in the PMC. I'm lucky enough to ride again each year only because brilliant scientists found new and better ways to defeat cancer. And because donations like yours make their work possible," said Morris.

See Morris' donation page here.

Otero, who has a $12,000 goal with $11,870 raised as of July 28, says he rides for his goal to wipe cancer off the face of the earth once and for all.

"My wonderful wife Lesley beat cancer, so did my mom, Aida, and Lesley's dad, Robert. I have two sons, Alex, with his wife Carli, and Ryan, with his fiance Caroline, plus my inspiring dad, Antonio. I am also fortunate to have many friends across New Jersey, New England, including those in the 'Critters' and 'Team Velominati' riding groups. If any of us get cancer, my wish and prayers are that we and all of you receive the very best treatment to get us cured.," said Otero.

See Otero's donation page here.

Since founded in 1980, the PMC has raised $831 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund.

Every dollar that riders raise goes to Dana-Farber's Jimmy Fund, with the Pan-Mass Challenge raising 55 percent of the fund's yearly monies, according to a news release from PMC.

"We’re coming off of a record-breaking fundraising year for Dana-Farber, and we’re thrilled to be 'back in the saddle' this summer, bringing our PMC community together for our first traditional PMC weekend since 2019 with our sights set on making an even bigger impact in the fight against cancer," said Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the PMC.

See all of the riders from New Jersey:

• Allendale
  • Cheryl Rubin
• Asbury
  • Todd Hengerer
• Avalon
  • Walter Locke
• Basking Ridge
  • Seldon Clarke
  • Jim Morris
  • Tony Otero
• Bayonne
  • Caroline Ortiz
• Butler
  • Valerie Whritenour
• Cedar Knolls
  • Bruce Levy
  • Steven Rapp
• East Brunswick
  • Donald Heilman
• Far Hills
  • Lynne Brum
• Glen Ridge
  • Kristen Sigler
• Glen Rock
  • Frank Gaul
• Haddon Heights
  • Max Tubman
• Hoboken
  • Anders Conrad
  • Debbie Jacobus
• Lawrenceville
  • Stephen Murray
• Madison
  • Bill Johnson
• Manasquan
  • Jeffrey Brown
  • Nicholas Papa
• Mendham
  • Thomas Fuller
• Montclair
  • Jennifer Hanawald
• Morristown
  • Per Sivertsson
• New Providence
  • Carl Bagish
• Newark
  • Hans Arnesen
• Oakland
  • Nicole Aubuchon
• Park Ridge
  • Kathy McCullough-Widmer
• Ridgewood
  • Edward Cullen
• Rumson
  • Janet Rotchford
• Scotch Plains
  • James Chitty
• Short Hills
  • Stephen Rasch
• Spring Lake
  • Justin English
• Summit
  • Fiona Bowen
  • Michael Cornell
  • Caitlin Stabler
  • Terry Thompson
• Wayne
  • Ashley Montesano
• West Orange
  • Linda Sterling
• Westfield
  • Stephen Aronson
• Westmont
  • Kevin Nowak
• Whitehouse Station
  • Bob Schoenfeld
• Wyckoff
  • Andrew Young

To make a financial contribution to a rider from your town or to register as a rider, visit pmc.org, or call (800) WE-CYCLE. Connect with #PMC2022 on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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