The following is a press release from the Pan-Mass Challenge Kids Ride: 

Newton-Needham-Brookline PMC Kids Ride to Raise Money for Cancer Care and Research

Newton, Mass.—On Saturday June 16, the 7^th annual Newton-Needham-Brookline Pan-Massachusetts Challenge Kids Ride will be one of 35 PMC Kids Rides held in neighborhoods throughout New England and beyond. The PMC Kids Rides program attracts more than 6,000 cyclists between the ages of 2 and 15, who will ride between one and 26 miles in mini-bike-a-thons to raise money for cancer care and research.

The PMC Kids Rides are spokes in the PMC wheel, joining the more than 5,500 adult PMC cyclists in their mission to fund adult and pediatric cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC is the two-day, 190-mile bike-a-thon held each August. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $338 million for the Jimmy Fund. PMC Kids Rides offer a way for children to become part of the PMC mission, involving young people in volunteerism and fundraising in a safe and athletic way. The PMC Kids Rides program has raised more than $4 million since it was founded in 1998.

To give the young cyclists an additional push, the PMC recognizes cyclists in the Kids Rides program who raise $250 or more. Riders who meet this goal are honored as Heavy Hitters and receive a backpack and a certificate from the PMC acknowledging their fundraising achievements. 

The Newton-Needham-Brookline PMC Kids Ride expects more than 500 children, ages 3 to 16, to ride a variety of distances starting at the Wells Office Park.  There will be a 0.9 Park Circuit for younger cyclists to ride as many times as they would like within 2 hours, while tykes with trikes will have an even shorter, fun “Tot Loop,” designed just for their level. The 8 to 16 years may select from an 8 mile loop or a longer slightly more challenging 19.85 mile Teen Ride which will travel through Needham and Dover with the Charles River School as a rest and refreshment stop. 

The Newton-Needham-Brookline PMC Kids Ride was started seven years ago and this year will hold a party after the ride, which will include a DJ by Siagel Productions, bike support from Landry’s Bicycles, a drawing for prizes, refreshments, arts and crafts, airbrush tattoos plus more fun and games. All registered riders will receive a PMC T-shirt and water bottle.

The Newton-Needham-Brookline PMC Kids Ride will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 16, with registration beginning at 8 a.m. All rides start at 9 a.m. from Wells Office Park, 180 Wells Avenue in Newton. There is a $15 registration fee and a suggested $25 fundraising minimum. PMC Kids Rides are sponsored by Stop & Shop. Contributions can be made payable to the Pan-Mass Challenge. To register, visit http://kids.pmc.org. For more information, email jena.greaser@gmail.com or call 860-803-9772 or 1-800-WE-CYCLE.