Pan-Mass Challenge riders inspired by loved onesDate: 7/18/2023 More than 6,000 riders from around the globe, including a portion from Western Massachusetts, will pedal in the 44th Pan-Mass Challenge on Aug. 5 and 6 to raise funds for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Representing the western region of the Bay State will be three Holyoke residents, nine South Hadley residents, 18 residents of the Longmeadow area, four Hadley residents, three Agawam residents, three Southwick residents and five residents from Hardwick, Holland, Monson and Ware. These cyclists will come together with a common goal of upping last year’s record breaking $70 million raised for research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
If achieved, this would be the single largest gift Dana-Farber has ever received, bringing the PMC’s total contribution in the fight against cancer to $970 million since 1980.
As the nation’s single most successful athletic fundraiser, the fully supported bike-athon includes one-day and two-day routes from 25 to 211 miles, designed to cater to all levels of cycling and fundraising ability. Riders and volunteers will travel from 43 states and eight different countries to participate in PMC Ride Weekend festivities in Massachusetts.
For the 17th consecutive year, 100% of every rider-raised dollar will be donated directly to Dana-Farber. The PMC notably accounts for more than 60% of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue as Dana-Farber’s largest single contributor.
Most riders participate in honor of a family member or friend fighting cancer, while 950 riders and volunteers are cancer survivors or current patients according to PMC organizers.
“The steadfast commitment of the PMC community year after year continues to inspire me,” said Founder and Executive Director of the PMC Billy Starr. “With our sights set on a record-breaking fundraising goal for PMC 2023, I’m grateful for the continued support from all PMC riders, volunteers, donors and sponsors, and I can’t wait to see everyone out on the road together this August.”
Starr told Reminder Publishing he created the PMC back in 1980 after losing his mother, uncle and cousin to cancer. The idea came to fruition after a hike with friends along the Appalachian Trail, where Starr said he learned an important life lesson, that he could achieve any feat with the right commitment and focus.
Starr set out to organize an athletic fundraising event focused on cycling and approached the then Jimmy Fund director with the idea, thus beginning an event that has continued to grow exponentially in size and funds raised over the course of four decades.
“During the first year of the event, the PMC raised $10,200 and had a total of 36 riders who rode from Springfield to Provincetown,” Starr said. “Our inaugural ride was not perfect, but the riders accomplished what they set out to do: raise funds for cancer research.”
Today, the PMC has over 6,000 riders, 3,000 volunteers and has raised over $900 million for Dana-Farber, again with 100% of every rider-raised dollar going directly toward the cancer institute. Having created a source for such significant fundraising efforts, Starr added being able to contribute — and the growth of others wanting to contribute — has shown how people can come together for causes that many of us have been impacted by.
“Contributing to cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber means the world to the entire PMC community. Cancer effects everyone in different ways and the PMC’s hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s doctors and researchers with the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers,” Starr said.
Many riders get involved for reasons similar to the one that prompted Starr to start the event. Donald Tucker is a Holyoke resident and said he got involved through his stepfather who is a cancer survivor and was a rider the year prior to Tucker joining. Tucker’s biological father had passed away many years ago and he found a strengthened connection with his stepfather in biking and a reason for getting involved in the PMC.
Tucker described the challenges of having a loved one battling cancer and said he has seen firsthand the impact Dana-Farber has on people as his stepfather was treated there and benefited from the Jimmy Fund. He added the riding challenge that the PMC can be gave him a lesson in the strength those battling cancer have.
“I always try to remind myself of — especially while I’m riding — my biological father who passed away of cancer wasn’t a biker, but he was really big into fitness and sports and all types of different activities. So, I just kind of reminded myself — while my legs are killing me and everything — just keep going, because yeah, if my dad could be out there pedaling with me, I know he would be,” Tucker said. “Every peddle it’s, ‘keep on doing it,’ because there’s a lot of people that can’t that want to.”
Another rider from the region is Beth Pashko from South Hadley who has been an avid rider for close to four decades. She got involved with the PMC almost a decade ago after her sister was a rider the summer following the death of her husband.
Pashko has maintained riding and this year is dedicating her ride to a friend battling cancer. She added seeing loved ones fight the disease gives her inspiration and makes the decision to ride and raise money an easy one.
“Dana-Farber is where my sister’s husband was treated so it’s near and dear to our hearts,” Pashko said. “This is a very unique event in that 100% of rider raised funds goes to the cause, which is unheard of. There is so much progress being made. My father died of prostate cancer that metastasized in ’87, and frankly if he had been diagnosed today, he probably wouldn’t have died. They’ve made so much progress and the only way I can help is to raise money.”
South Hadley resident Tricia Klein is riding for Team CB Riders, a team conceived by friends Jeff O’Donnell and Jim Walsh. The name “CB” comes from O’Donnell’s mantra, “Celebrate Being,” that he and his wife Debbie shared during the 15 years O’Donnell went through cancer treatments for GIST. Klein, who was childhood friends with Debbie and later friends with Jeff, said they were all close friends and that O’Donnell “became like a brother to my husband.”
Klein said the O’Donnell’s were very open about Jeff’s treatment and battle with cancer and so their mantra has been present in Klein’s mind since. Ultimately O’Donnell passed away from the disease three years ago, but the mantra has stood strong as his 15-year battle showcased strength and courage for all who knew him.
“We all know that through the years, ‘celebrate being’ — Jeff was blessed I say, as strange as that may sound, to live a very lengthy time going through treatment options because 15 years is a pretty significant time with GIST,” Klein said. “To this day, even though Jeff’s been gone for three years, his wife and children very much celebrate. I mean we all feel like Jeff is here sometimes still because they just really hold that mantra tight of “Celebrate Being” and from the littlest moments to the biggest moments, they truly make it matter.”
Klein herself has also been personally impacted by cancer as she underwent surgery for the removal of a brain tumor about four years ago. Fortunately, the tumor was non-cancerous, but Klein has started treatment again as they were only able to remove 92% of the original tumor and after four years it has begun to grow again.
Klein said as she has used her personal experience as motivation as she thinks of what her friend once had to deal with in O’Donnell. She added she has been training hard heading into this year’s ride and while it can be more challenging, it just takes greater effort to get it done, according to Klein.
“He’s inspirational to me because unfortunately the issue I’ve gone through the past five years, I have one balance system. I’d always been an avid cyclist so when I think of what Jeff endured, I go, ‘OK, Tricia, you can certainly carry on and be an inspiration,’ so he is absolutely a great inspiration,” Klein said.
Klein was happy to share her own personal story as she hopes to be another avenue of motivation for PMC riders and inspire others.
“I think once I went through the radiation and I realized that even thought I don’t have a cancerous tumor, the treatments that I undergo are because of cancer research. So it’s a benefit even that the research that happens to cancer is of benefit to many who don’t have cancer as it enhances treatment for what people are enduring,” Klein said.
Klein also noted she would be riding in the memory of her parents, O’Donnell and any other friends who have passed. As of press time, Klein has so far raised $6,938 in a goal of raising $10,000 for the PMC with Team CB Riders and added she hopes to keep it going as high as possible. If interested in learning more about Klein’s story or donating visit profile.pmc.org/PK0164.
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