Pan-Mass Challenge

{{Short description|Fundraising bike-a-thon}} {{Infobox organization | name = Pan-Mass Challenge | logo = Pan-Mass Challenge logo.png | logo_size = | logo_alt = Event logo, which is a bike with the tires spelling out, sort of, P M C | logo_caption = | formation = {{start date and age|1980|08}} | founder = Billy Starr | type = Athletic fundraiser | purpose = Fundraising for cancer research and care | headquarters = Needham, Massachusetts | leader_title = Chairman | leader_name = Billy Starr | num_volunteers = 3,500<ref>{{Cite web |title=Who We Are |url=https://www.pmc.org/who-we-are |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=Pan-Mass Challenge}}</ref> | num_volunteers_year = 2023 | website = {{URL|pmc.org}} }}

The '''Pan-Mass Challenge''' ('''PMC''') is a fundraising bike-a-thon started in 1980 by Billy Starr to benefit the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute via the Jimmy Fund.<ref name="Eppolito">{{Cite news |last=Eppolito |first=Sophia |date=4 August 2018 |title='To cure cancer, you need to do research' — so these cyclists are funding some |work=Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/08/04/pan-mass-challenge-launches-saturday-morning/3lYOwVEvjQeiA8zwQ8HGkO/story.html |access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Mary Helen |date=20 July 2011 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge: How cyclists raise the most money for charity |work=The Christian Science Monitor |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2011/0720/Pan-Mass-Challenge-How-cyclists-raise-the-most-money-for-charity |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> It raises more money than any other single athletic fundraiser in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huss |first=Julie |date=3 August 2017 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge cyclists ride to support Dana-Farber |work=The Eagle-Tribune |url=https://www.eagletribune.com/news/pan-mass-challenge-cyclists-ride-to-support-dana-farber/article_cb4bc2c2-dbf9-5953-8903-7f73379982ff.html |access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref>

==History==

Starr created the Pan-Mass Challenge in 1980, several years after his mother contracted melanoma.<ref name="Eppolito" /> In its first year, the event raised $10,200 and had 36 riders, who rode from Springfield to Provincetown.<ref name="Whelan" /><ref name="Ailworth" /> The PMC was the first athletic fundraiser to require participants to guarantee their pledges with a personal credit card,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lindsay |first=Drew |date=1 March 2015 |title=Billy Starr Means Business |work=The Chronicle of Philanthropy |url=https://www.philanthropy.com/article/Billy-Starr-Means-Business/190449 |url-access=subscription |access-date=28 November 2018}}</ref> a change that caused riders' delinquency rate to fall from 17 percent to 3 percent.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Halpern |first=Joe |date=23 March 2018 |title=A memorable ride: Pan-Mass Challenge founder Billy Starr shows no signs of slowing down |work=Boston Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2018/03/23/a-memorable-ride-pan-mass-challenge-founder-billy.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref> In 2024, 6,800 riders<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-12 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge donates record $72 million to cancer charity, closing in on $1 billion since 1980 |url=https://apnews.com/article/panmass-challenge-cycling-charity-2469b0953369e9012f2b934bb31e1e44 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> participated in the 45th annual Pan-Mass Challenge. It raised $75 million, the largest donation the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has received.<ref>{{Cite web |title=bizjournals 2024/11/16 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2024/11/16/pmc-75m-donation-dana-farber.html |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> Lifetime fundraising for the event since 1980 exceeded $1 billion in 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-17 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge raises $75 million in 2024, topping $1 billion for cancer research since 1980 |url=https://apnews.com/article/cancer-charity-panmass-challenge-ad11d593fd76b74e4ba84c2e9df8c220 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref>

Notable past riders in the PMC include former NFL quarterback Alex Smith,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sobey |first1=Rick |title=Ex-NFL QB Alex Smith gears up to bike 200 miles across Massachusetts for the Pan-Mass Challenge; last year has been 'extremely difficult' as daughter fights brain tumor |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/08/03/ex-nfl-qb-alex-smith-gears-up-to-bike-200-miles-across-massachusetts-for-the-pan-mass-challenge-last-year-has-been-extremely-difficult-as-daughter-fights-brain-tumor/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=Boston Herald |date=3 August 2023}}</ref> three-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lord |first1=Robin |title=Paris to Pan-Mass |url=https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2006/08/05/paris-to-pan-mass/50886773007/ |access-date=21 December 2023 |work=Cape Cod Times |date=5 August 2006}}</ref> Olympic speed skater Johann Olav Koss, multiple Boston Marathon winner Uta Pippig,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Meade |first1=Lauren K. |title=Pedal-pushing for charity dollars |url=https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-pedal-pushing-for-chari/138395374// |work=Boston Globe |date=3 August 2006 |pages=[https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-pedal-pushing-for-chari/138395416/ 73], [https://bostonglobe.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-pedal-pushing-for-chari/138395374/ 78] |access-date=9 January 2024 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> three-time Super Bowl champion Troy Brown,<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 August 2018 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge Riders Hit Massachusetts Roads For A Good Cause |work=CBS Boston |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2018/08/04/bourne-pan-mass-challenge-underway/ |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> Joshua Bekenstein (a PMC board member), Dana-Farber CEO Laurie Glimcher,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Lillian |date=7 November 2018 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge celebrates record-breaking year |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2018/11/07/pan-mass-challenge-celebrates-record-breaking-year/vzbBAre0XKzaoAysLxhwIP/story.html |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Boston mayor Marty Walsh,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Corsano |first=Erica |date=10 May 2015 |title=Social Studies: Garden party grows into a blooming bash |work=Boston Herald |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2015/05/10/social-studies-garden-party-grows-into-a-blooming-bash/ |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> restaurateur Jody Adams,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Murphy |first=Jen |date=29 July 2013 |title=Boston Chef Digs In to Ride for Charity |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323610704578629991716692724 |access-date=27 August 2019}}</ref> former Secretary of State John Kerry,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ducharme |first=Jamie |date=7 August 2017 |title=John Kerry Rode in the Pan-Mass Challenge This Year |work=Boston Magazine |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/health/2017/08/07/john-kerry-pan-mass-challenge/ |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> Nobel laureate William Kaelin,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weintraub |first=Karen |date=12 September 2016 |title=Cancer researcher wins prestigious honor |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/09/12/cancer-researcher-his-surgeon-wife-died-disease-now-being-heralded-for-his-cancer-discovery/mcc1UpKOmZ1eevUhBvvFhP/story.html |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> Senator Scott Brown,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Schoenberg |first=Shira |date=17 July 2012 |title=U.S. Sen. Scott Brown to ride in Pan-Mass Challenge |work=MassLive.com |url=https://www.masslive.com/politics/2012/07/us_sen_scott_brown_to_ride_in.html |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> Judge Samuel Zoll,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dalton |first=Tom |date=27 April 2011 |title='The most honest person I ever met' |work=The Salem News |url=https://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/the-most-honest-person-i-ever-met/article_87ea28d0-dcbc-5e5a-bf1f-c6ab972ff63f.html |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne,<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 October 2019 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge Raises Record $63 Million for Dana-Farber |work=Philanthropy News Digest |url=https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/pan-mass-challenge-raises-record-63-million-for-dana-farber |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> and football player Joe Andruzzi.<ref>{{Cite news |title=PMC Kickoff: Former Patriot Joe Andruzzi |work=NECN |url=https://www.necn.com/entertainment/the-scene/PMC-Kickoff_-Former-Patriot-Joe-Andruzzi_NECN-239580971.html# |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref>

==Format== thumbnail|right|Cyclists riding in the 2011 Pan-Mass Challenge.

Each August, cyclists ride for one or two days,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pan-Mass Challenge raised record $56M for Dana-Farber this year |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2018/11/05/pan-mass-challenge-raised-record-56m-for-dana.html |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> on one of 16 routes ranging from 25 to 211 miles long<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wicked Local: Local News in Boston, MA |url=https://www.wickedlocal.com/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=Wicked Local |language=en-US}}</ref> running through 47 Massachusetts towns. The longest route runs from Sturbridge to Bourne on the first day (although this route was retired after the 2025 ride, with plans for a new route beginning in Worcester in 2026 ,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Routes {{!}} Pan-Mass Challenge |url=https://www.pmc.org/routes-logistics |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.pmc.org |language=en}}</ref> followed by the 100-mile Wellesley Century route beginning and ending at Babson College on the second day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=WBZ-News |date=2023-08-07 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge cyclists finish ride, hope to raise record $70 million for cancer research - CBS Boston |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/pan-mass-challenge-2023-day-two/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Ailworth" /> Some teams have "Pedal Partners", children who are currently receiving cancer treatment via the Jimmy Fund.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PMC Community |url=https://www.pmc.org/pmc-community |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=Pan-Mass Challenge}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Havsy |first=Jane |date=30 July 2019 |title=NJ riders take on Pan-Mass Challenge bikeathon against cancer |work=Daily Record |url=https://www.dailyrecord.com/story/life/good-life/health/2019/07/30/pan-mass-challenge-cape-cod-provincetown-bikeathon-dana-farber-cancer-institute/1814187001/ |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rex |first=Kristina |date=3 August 2019 |title=Pictures Of Children Battling Cancer Along Route Motivate PMC Riders |work=CBS Boston |url=https://boston.cbslocal.com/2019/08/03/pmc-pedal-partners-childhood-cancer-erica-emma-murphy/ |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref> Riders commit to raising between $1,000 and $6,000, depending on their age and the route they will be riding.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pan-Mass riders roll for others - Concord Bridge |url=https://theconcordbridge.org/index.php/2023/09/06/pan-mass-riders-roll-for-others/ |access-date=2 January 2024 |work=The Concord Bridge |date=6 September 2023}}</ref> As of 2015, 75 percent of riders had previously participated in the event, and 1,100 had participated for 10 years or more.<ref name="Bailey" />

In 2016 a new winter event, the PMC Winter Cycle, was created.<ref name="Whelan">{{Cite news |last=Whelan Jr. |first=Tim |date=26 January 2018 |title=Wellesley resident Billy Starr set to bring first ever indoor cycling event to Fenway Park |work=The Wellesley Townsman |url=https://wellesley.wickedlocal.com/sports/20180126/wellesley-resident-billy-starr-set-to-bring-first-ever-indoor-cycling-event-to-fenway-park |access-date=21 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190821010129/https://wellesley.wickedlocal.com/sports/20180126/wellesley-resident-billy-starr-set-to-bring-first-ever-indoor-cycling-event-to-fenway-park |archive-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> Since 2018, it has been held inside Fenway Park.<ref name="Bisbee">{{Cite news |last=Bisbee |first=Dana |date=22 February 2019 |title=PMC Winter Cycle |work=The Improper Bostonian |url=https://www.improper.com/photos-parties/pmc-winter-cycle-2/ |access-date=21 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223082641/https://improper.com/photos-parties/pmc-winter-cycle-2/ |archive-date=23 Feb 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sobey |first=Rick |date=8 June 2021 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge holds kickoff event at Fenway Park, sets $52 million fundraising goal |work=Boston Herald |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/06/08/pan-mass-challenge-holds-kickoff-event-at-fenway-park-sets-52-million-fundraising-goal/ |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>

Local PMC Kids Rides are held throughout the year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PMC Kids Rides |url=https://kids.pmc.org/ |access-date=22 August 2019 |website=PMC Kids Rides}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=8 March 2019 |title=2019 Cranberry Country PMC Kids Ride set for June 2 |work=South Coast Today |url=https://www.southcoasttoday.com/special/20190308/2019-cranberry-country-pmc-kids-ride-set-for-june-2 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 May 2019 |title=Natick PMC Kids Ride May 5 |work=The Metro West Daily News |url=https://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20190501/natick-pmc-kids-ride-may-5 |access-date=22 August 2019}}</ref>

In October 2022, more than 200 riders participated in the first PMC Unpaved event, a one-day, off-road gravel ride in the Berkshires.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 April 2022 |title=Pan Mass Challenge to add inaugural off-road charity ride |language=en |work=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/sports-massachusetts-cycling-road-philanthropy-d32f250563cb1bba9794a686d280178b |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="Sobey">{{Cite news |last=Sobey |first=Rick |date=14 November 2022 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge donates record-breaking $69M to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2022/11/14/pan-mass-challenge-donates-record-breaking-69m-to-dana-farber-cancer-institute/ |access-date=11 December 2022 |work=Boston Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bellow |first=Heather |date=1 October 2022 |title=Cyclists take to unpaved Berkshire roads to raise money for cancer research in Pan-Mass Challenge Unpaved bike-a-thon. Survivor and Pittsfield native Jennifer Doboszynski couldn't wait to help |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/sports/local_sports/berkshires-off-road-pnc-unpaved-dana-farber-cancer-institute-cycling-lenox/article_a7e8391c-41b2-11ed-b4dc-a7933cde8fb1.html |access-date=13 December 2022 |work=The Berkshire Eagle |language=en}}</ref> Approximately 400 riders participated in the 2024 PMC Unpaved event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pan-Mass Challenge Unpaved is back in Berkshire County this weekend |url=https://spectrumnews1.com/ma/worcester/news/2024/09/27/pan-mass-challenge-unpaved-berkshire-county |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=spectrumnews1.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Impact==

The PMC is the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute's largest donor and provides 66% of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue as of 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dana-Farber announces record-breaking donation from Pan-Mass Challenge |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2024/11/16/pmc-75m-donation-dana-farber.html |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref> From 1980 to 2024, the event raised $1.047 billion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PMC Celebrates A Record Breaking Year |url=https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/pmc-celebrates-a-record-breaking-year/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=WBZ NewsRadio 1030 |language=en}}</ref> This funding has been directed to cancer care and research, including helping fund the development of 41 cancer drugs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reyes |first=Max |date=19 October 2019 |title=Dana-Farber receives record $63 million donation from Pan-Mass Challenge |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/10/19/dana-farber-receives-record-million-donation-from-pan-mass-challenge/a34uinmqmrDrBxBrRmPNuN/story.html |access-date=22 November 2019}}</ref> Since 2007, 100 percent of the money raised by riders goes to the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute, with all event overhead funded by sponsors, entry fees, and other income.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Soroff |first=Jonathan |date=13 January 2017 |title=Starr Power |work=The Improper Bostonian |url=https://www.improper.com/life-style/starr-power/ |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="Ailworth" /> In 2018, 200 sponsors provided $7 million in support.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Halpern |first=Joe |date=2 August 2018 |title=Pan-Mass Challenge primed for record run as corporate sponsors ride on |work=Boston Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2018/08/02/pan-mass-challenge-primed-for-record-run-as.html |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref>

Since its inception, the PMC has inspired various other athletic fundraising events that followed it, like Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society and Pelotonia for the James Cancer Center in Columbus, Ohio.<ref name="Ailworth">{{Cite news |last=Ailworth |first=Erin |date=3 August 2014 |title=The soul of a money-collecting machine |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/08/02/the-soul-money-collecting-machine/DIodjRkJs23j2NGKGFdQTN/story.html |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref> According to the Peer-to-Peer Professional Forum in 2023, the PMC is the third-largest peer-to-peer event fundraiser (behind the American Heart Association's Heart Walk and Relay For Life),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cole |first=Amanda L. |date=2024-02-22 |title=Top P2P Fundraising Programs Continue Streak |url=https://www.nonprofitpro.com/post/top-30-peer-to-peer-fundraising-programs-continue-streak-of-year-over-year-growth/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=NonProfit PRO |language=en}}</ref> and the PMC grosses more than any other single event fundraiser.<ref name="Bailey">{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Melissa |date=23 November 2015 |title=How a bike-a-thon raised half a billion dollars for cancer |work=Stat |url=https://www.statnews.com/2015/11/23/pan-mass-challenge-cancer/ |access-date=21 August 2019}}</ref>

==References==

{{Reflist}}

== External links == * {{LittleSis}}

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Category:Cancer fundraisers Category:Charities based in Massachusetts Category:1980 establishments in Massachusetts Category:Organizations established in 1980