Pan-Mass Challenge A Proud New England Tradition

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On August 1st and 2nd more than 5000 cyclists will start the 30th Pan Mass Challenge.  The race routes go  as far as 190 miles if you ride the original Sturbridge to Provincetown route.  The Pan-Massachusetts challenge is a bike-a-thon that raises money for research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund.

My family and I were at the Red Sox unveiling of the PMC logo next to the Jimmy Fund logo on the green monster.  The Red Sox are co-presenting sponsors with Overstock.com.  The Red Sox have been presenting sponsors since 2003.

It is hard to find someone that has not been impacted by cancer.  My mother was diagnosed with breast cancer before my wedding back in 1998 and I am happy to say she is a survivor.  Others are not that lucky and this Massachusetts event serves not just to fund raise but to bring awareness to the losses that so many families experience to cancer.  My husband and I have supported a variety of riders over the year but the one who started made us aware of the bike-a-thon was Steve Sexton who lives in Sturbridge and lost his mother to cancer many years ago.  He continues to ride and thankfully we have been able to continue to support him.  He rides for TeamPowerCure, I’m sure he would welcome more contributions.

The Pan-Mass Challenge started in 1980 and has gone from 36 riders and $10,200 to a projected 5,241 and $35 million dollars in contributions in this it’s 30th year.  Though it is too late to sign up to be a rider it is definitely not too late to contribute in whatever way you can.  You may also be able to cheer the riders along since the original route goes through a few Worcester County towns (Sturbridge, Charlton, Oxford, Sutton, Northbridge, Uxbridge and Mendon).  For more information go to pmc.org.