Seven residents of the city joined with more than 6,000 riders from around the globe to compete in the Pan-Mass Challenge with the aim of raising a record-breaking $70 million for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Sean Biggins, Andrew Cacciola, Ina Hajro, Scott Hardiman, Rubens Lorenzini, Annie O’Shea and Elaine Shapiro all joined the ride, which included one and two-day routes, from 25 to 211 miles, designed to cater to all levels of cycling and fundraising ability. For the 17th consecutive year, 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar will be donated directly to Dana-Farber to support lifesaving cancer research and treatment. The PMC accounts for more than 60 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue as Dana-Farber’s largest single contributor.
“The steadfast commitment of the PMC community year after year continues to inspire me,” said Billy Starr, founder and executive director of the PMC. “With our sights set on a record-breaking fundraising goal for PMC 2023, I’m grateful for the continued support from all PMC riders, volunteers, donors and sponsors.”
Since 1980, the PMC has contributed more than $900 million to the fight against cancer. The PMC is co-presented by the Red Sox Foundation and M&T Bank. To make a financial contribution to a rider from your town, visit the PMC website, or call (800) WE-CYCLE.
Riders and volunteers traveled from 43 states and 8 countries to participate in PMC Ride Weekend festivities in Massachusetts. Most participate in honor of a family member or friend fighting cancer, and 950 riders and volunteers are cancer survivors or current patients, considered Living Proof of the PMC mission. There are also 150 Dana-Farber employees committed to the cause as riders and volunteers, in some cases to fund their own cancer research.
Biggins said he rode to “support the amazing research being done by Dr. Katherine Janeway and her colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.” Janeway was the treating physician of a young boy who was friends with two of Biggins’ teammates’ children, Biggins wrote in a “why I ride” post on the PMC website.
Hardiman, who was riding in his ninth PMC over the weekend, said he rode in the memory of loved ones and friends who had lost their battles with cancer.
“I ride in memory of my mother, Lisl, who lost her battle against cancer in 2011; Chuck, my college roommate and fellow US Air Force Veteran who lost his battle in 2012; and family friend Kris, who lost her battle in 2015. In the past few years other friends of mine, including Jimmy Mac and Jeff, have also passed away due to cancer,” Hardiman wrote. “The Pan Mass Challenge remains as important as it has ever been.”
O’Shea, who completed her 25th ride this weekend, said she has witnessed first-hand the power of donations to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, after her husband, Pat, was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.
“We literally watched the construction of a new Dana Farber building funded by the PMC during Pat’s appointments at the start of his treatment,” O’Shea wrote.
Shapiro said she rode in memory of her husband, Barry, who who lost his battle with cancer at age 45.
“He’s the motivation and my heart,” she wrote. “But every year, more and more family members and friends have fought their own battles with cancer. I raise funds in their memory and in their names in the hope that we can fund enough research so that no one has to lose their loved ones to cancer.”
