After a year of “reimagining” the Pan-Mass Challenge, I’m so happy to share that PMC weekend is back on! The first weekend in August (August 7 & 8, 2021), thousands of riders and volunteers will come together across Massachusetts with the common goal of raising funds for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
2021 is my 14th year involved with the Pan-Mass Challenge. I first volunteered in 2008, first rode in 2012, and then joined the professional staff in 2017.
These last two years have been incredibly unique PMC experiences. In 2020, we reimagined the PMC, asking riders to ride on their own wherever in world they are, asking riders, volunteers and virtual riders to fundraise, and sharing online features on PMC weekend instead of gathering in person.
This year, we’re luckily able to hold the traditional ride again, but will still have some restrictions in place because of COVID-19. And while the pandemic may have impacted how we’re able to hold the ride, it has not impacted why we ride. Our mission and commitment to support Dana-Farber remain as strong as ever.
The PMC makes up an incredible 64 percent of The Jimmy Fund's annual revenue and they're counting on our support. The pandemic brought significant challenges to Dana-Farber – carrying out research and treating immunocompromised cancer patients has become more challenging and costly.
As always, 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar goes to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a powerful initiative that not many nonprofits are able to achieve. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $767 million for Dana-Farber, including $50 million last year in the midst of the pandemic.
This year, the PMC's fundraising goal is $52 million. If you are able to give, please donate to support cancer research and treatment.
If you're still reading this, you probably already know how devasting cancer is. It's estimated that 600,000 people will die of cancer in the US this year. I've had friends and family who have had cancer and been treated at Dana-Farber, and each year I meet more and more PMC friends who have had cancer or who have lost a loved one to cancer.
Once again, if you can support the PMC and Dana-Farber, please donate. Every dollar truly makes a difference and I'm proud to work with this team of professional staff and volunteer head staff to support the thousands of riders, volunteers, virtual riders, sponsors and donors who make the PMC the largest athletic fundraiser in the country. Thank you for supporting the PMC and bringing us closer by the mile to a cure for cancer!
