The PMC is the largest charitable fundraising event in the United States. The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge raises money for life-saving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through an annual bike-a-thon that crosses the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber’s doctors and researchers the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers.

There are several different options for riding and each rider agrees to a very aggressive minimum fundraising goal. The ride’s founder believes in challenging people physically and financially by committing to work as hard at fundraising as they do on the bicycle. For the two-day, 192 mile ride that I participate in the minimum to be raised is $4,300.

The goal of the ride for 2012 is to raise $34 Million. Over the years the PMC has raised more than $350M. On the web site (www.pmc.org) this is a summary of “Why We Ride”:  “Riding in the PMC is a way to channel physical, mental and emotional energy into something much greater than the athletic accomplishment that is gained by riding up to 192 miles. PMC cyclists use their strength to help those who cannot. With each mile pedaled, the PMC brings researchers closer to finding cures for various types of cancer that affect millions of people each year.”

Thanks to my sponsors I have exceeded my personal target of $5,000 and will continue to work to raise as much money as I can.