Week 15 of #52weeksofgiving - George Privé’s Pan Mass Challenge
For week 15 of #52weeksofgiving, LeMay Family Goodworks sponsored George Privé’s Pan-Mass Challenge Ride. George is a good friend of Michelle’s who rides in the bike-a-thon every year to honor his wife, Paula, a 25-year volunteer and 46-year cancer survivor.
Learn more about the Pan-Mass Challenge and George’s story below.
About the Pan-Mass Challenge
The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is a Massachusetts-based bike-a-thon held annually on the first weekend in August. The event raises funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world leader in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research. In fact, the PMC raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country!
Thousands of riders and volunteers from 43 states and 12 countries participate every year with the goal of finding a cure for cancer. The best part is that 100% of rider-raised funds go to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund! The PMC is Dana-Farber’s most prominent supporter and is 55% of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.
The bike-a-thon has raised $831 million for Dana-Farber since the first PMC in 1980, which included just 36 riders and 10 volunteers. Although the riders got lost, they still raised $10,200 for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on that first ride.
Today, the PMC hosts more than 6,800 riders and 3,000 volunteers. In 2021 alone, the PMC raised a record-breaking $64 million!
George Privé’s Story
George just celebrated his 80th birthday and will be riding his 26th PMC. He will participate in the 192-mile two-day bike-a-thon from Sturbridge to Provincetown on August 6th and 7th. Last year, George raised $33,000, bringing his lifetime total to nearly $800,000!
George rides to honor his wife, Paula, and his friends Rich H., Gail M., John D., Joanne D., Sandy B., and Cindy P., who are battling cancer. He also rides in memory of his mother, best friend, brother-in-law, and two cousins. He has lost many family members and friends to this awful disease. Most likely, many of us have been touched by cancer.
How You Can Help
To support Dana-Farber’s vital cancer research and treatments, support George’s ride by making a donation. Looking for other ways to get involved? You can ride or become a volunteer! They have ride options for everyone:
PMC Weekend: Choose one of 16 routes across Massachusetts ranging from 25 to 211 miles and choose to ride one or two days.
Reimagined Riders: Choose to bike wherever, whenever, and however far you choose while supporting the PMC community.
Virtual Riders: Fundraise without riding! This allows you to raise as much money as you can toward cancer research and care.
Or you can donate your time by volunteering during the PMC weekend and other events throughout the year! Many volunteer positions are available while the current year’s registration is still open.
To learn more about the PMC and keep up with their opportunities, follow them on Instagram @panmass or on Facebook.
Is there a cause you’d like to see us support? Contact us today to tell us who they are and how they’re making a difference!
