VIRTUAL FUNDRAISER
2020 Pan-Mass Challenge includes handful of area residents
NEEDHAM, MASS. » On Saturday, more than 10,000 participants, including a handful of Saratoga County residents, will virtually take part in the reimagined 2020 Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) bike-athon with the goal of raising critical funds for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber).
The organization’s traditional ride, which typically includes 12 routes spanning 25 to 192 miles over the first weekend of every August, will be transformed into a virtual experience, following an Opening Ceremonies television broadcast to kick things off on Friday. PMC 2020 Re-imagined will remotely bring together thousands of riders, volunteers, donors and supporters from around the globe to virtually celebrate the spirit of PMC weekend while making an unparalleled impact on the fight against cancer.
Many participate to honor a family member or friend who has battled cancer, while more than 940 riders and volunteers are cancer survivors or current patients themselves - considered living proof of the progress made in cancer research and treatment. The annual PMC bike-athon raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the world.
“As we prepare for PMC 2020 Reimagined, we are grateful for the continued support from our growing community,” said Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the PMC. “It is thanks to the unwavering passion and commitment of our riders, volunteers, donors and sponsors that the PMC can continue to make tangible
impact on advancements in cancer research and treatment, even through this difficult time.
“We look forward to having old and new participants join us on Aug. 1, bound together by our dream of a world without cancer.”
While this year’s PMC will be different in its execution, the organization and its community remains fully committed to its fundraising efforts in support of life-saving cancer research, treatment and care at Dana-Farber. 100% of every rider-raised dollar is donated directly to Dana-Farber through its fundraising arm, the Jimmy Fund, accounting for more than 57 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.
In 2019, the PMC donated a record-breaking $63 million to Dana-Farber, bringing its 40-year contribution to more than $717 million.
Kristopher Williams, of Gansevoort, is one of the local riders participating this year. This is his first year involved in Pan-Mass, and he looks forward to many more.
“I was introduced to this by my girlfriend Jessica Nash, who has participated for 21 years,” Williams said. “I’ve lost many family members to cancer. The thing that’s great about this is that the proceeds go 100% to the cause.”
Williams was actually a little hesitant to join for the first time, because the entry fee to participate in PanMass is on the steep side.
“It’s $5,000 to join,” he explained. “That’s a lot of money. But, eventually I decided, ‘you know what, I’m a little nervous, but I’m going to do it.’ My initial goal was to raise half of it with donations and pay the other half myself.”
Then COVID-19 arrived and threw a wrench into the works.
But, not being able to participate in the originally-planned ride isn’t stopping Williams or Nash from getting out there and having a good ride.
“We’re going to do an honorary ride this weekend when we go on vacation on the Cape,” Williams explained. “And I’m already looking forward to next year. I’m told it’s a very moving experience.”
Other local participants in this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge Re-imagined are
Jen Hathaway of Halfmoon, Sean Walter of Saratoga Springs, and Derek Witheford of Saratoga Springs.
To learn more about
PMC, including donation opportunities and to volunteer or participate this year or in future years, visit www.pmc.org.