One of your neighbors may well be among those making the 192 mile route from Sturbridge to Provincetown--or one of the shorter routes on the annual Pan-Mass Challenge includes five two-day rides as well as six one-day rides. The event benefits the Dana Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. 

Are you a Brookline resident riding in the PMC? We want to hear from you!

The ride was founded by a Newton native, Billy Star, back in 1980. since then, the event has grown to raise more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country, according to a press release from the PMC. 

“The PMC is the gold standard of athletic fundraising events,” said Starr, Pan-Massachusetts Challenge founder and executive director in a press release. “PMCers are as committed to raising money for cancer research as they are to pedaling the miles. PMC cyclists are all heart and soul.”

Starr made an appearance in Newton earlier this year at a reception for Newton riders, which was hosted by three-time PMC rider Newton Mayor Setti Warren. During the reception, Starr noted that Newton has one of the highest PMC participation rates of any other Massachusetts community, and the average Newton PMC rider has been with the PMC for 11 years. 

Below is the full press release: 

Brookline Residents Ride in 33^rd Annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge August 4 and 5

On August 4 and 5, 334 residents from Brookline, Newton, Chestnut Hill, Waban, West Newton and Auburndale will pedal their way into fundraising history as participants in the 33^rd annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC), the nation’s pioneer charity bike-a-thon that raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. 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.

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 PMCparticipants 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.”

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 PMCfundraising 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 across Massachusetts. 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 commitme nt 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.