Community Corner
49 Arlingtonians to Ride in Pan-Mass Challenge
Arlington has 49 riders in the nation's pioneer charity bike-a-thon that raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country.
The following is from the Pan-Mass Challenge.
A total of 49 residents from Arlington will pedal their way into fundraising history as participants in the 33rd annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge on Aug. 4 and 5.
They will be among 5,500 cyclists who will ride with the collective goal of raising $36 million to support adult and pediatric cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund.
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PMC riders range in age from 13 to 88. Some are seasoned tri-athletes while others are weekend warriors having trained for this event alone. Most PMC 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 PMC cyclist trains for three months, solicits 40 sponsors, and raises more than $6,000. 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-Massachusetts Challenge founder and executive director. “PMCers are as committed to raising money for cancer research as they are to pedaling the miles. PMC cyclists are all heart and soul.”
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During PMC weekend, individual cyclists become part of one family. The camaraderie shared by 5,500 cyclists, more than 3,000 volunteers, and thousands of spectators, is one reason cyclists from 36 states and eight countries return to Massachusetts each August to participate in the PMC.
No other single athletic event raises or contributes more money to charity than the PMC. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $338 million for adult and pediatric cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. The PMC gives 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the Jimmy Fund, a rate of fundraising that is nearly unequaled within the $3 billion athletic fundraising event industry. In 2011, the PMC raised $35 million, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the philanthropic support of Dana-Farber. More than 230,000 individual contributions were made to last year’s PMC fundraising campaign.
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 acrossMassachusetts. Cyclists choose from 11 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 153 to 190 miles and five one-day rides that range from 25 to 110 miles. In 2012, 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. Checks can be made payable to PMC, 77 Fourth Ave., Needham, Mass. 02494.
eGiftID
Last Name
First Name
DB0326
Bemis
Devin
JB0394
Bemis
Jean
LB0062
Bohn
Larry
JB0450
Breslau
Jeremy
MB0459
Briggett
Marlissa
DB0093
Butler
Daniel
EC0146
Campanella
Edward
AC0212
Casieri
Anthony
RC0213
Chen
Rodger
JC0133
Cunningham-Butler
Jen
DC0289
Curtin
Dan
MD0152
DiGregorio
Marc
ED0050
Dority
Beth
SD0134
Duncan
Sam
PE0012
English
Paul
ME0057
Enos
Matthew
LE0030
Epstein
Linda
JF0216
Fenollosa
Josh
RF0074
Fields
Richard
JF0231
Frick
Janet
MG0161
Gibson
Mark
DG0139
Greene
David
LH0006
Hefferon
Lauren
JH0105
Hodgson
Jonathan
MH0273
TH0046
Holowitz
Tony
KH0207
Howie
Kelly
LH0123
Huber
Laurie
TH0138
Huynh
Tich
JK0059
Kohl
John
CL0075
Leotsakos
Constantine
JL0244
Leotsakos
Joy
LM0017
Medwar
Linda
SM0174
Mitrano
Salvatore
DN0013
Neu
Douglas
BO0046
O'Day
Brendan
WP0007
Page
Wendy
CR0110
Recupero
Casey
TR0096
Rogers
Ted
RS0257
Scannell
Richard
SS0338
Schwartz
Suzanne
JS0319
Scutti
Jim
DS0304
Shkolny
Dana
DS0281
Sibel
David
NS0100
Spiegel
Nathan
MT0144
Thayer
Max
DV0005
Vanderlinden
Donna
TW0102
Welsh
Theresa
LZ0018
Zitello
Lindsey
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