Weston residents ride for cancer cure in Pan-Mass Challenge

 

 

More than three dozen Weston residents will join thousands of others this weekend to raise money for the fight against cancer in the single biggest fundraising sporting event in the United States.

The Pan-Mass Challenge, held annually on the first weekend of August, is a bike-a-thon, spanning from the tip of Provincetown on the east to Worcester in the west – totalling 177 miles. Numerous shorter routes are also available, down to 25 miles, to allow for wider participation.

Each Pan-Mass Challenge rider must reach a fundraising goal in order to join the event.

Last year, 6,000 bikers participated and over 3,500 volunteered to help along the way. Every single dollar raised before and during the Pan-Mass Challenge goes to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research.

Since 1980, the Pan-Mass Challenge has raised over $1.1 billion for cancer research. A goal of $79 million has been set for the 2026 rendition of the two-day event.

Weston resident Greg White is preparing for his first time riding in the Pan-Mass Challenge.

White planned on riding two years ago, but a health complication originally stemming from his battle with leukemia forced him to sit out just one week before the ride.

“Now I’m actually going to be able to ride,” said White. “It’s hard to put it into words. It’s starting to feel real that I’m going to be able to do this.”

White’s parents and brother have ridden in the Pan-Mass Challenge before to support him. This weekend, they will be able to ride side-by-side.

“I fully anticipate being completely emotional riding with them,” said White.

Work done by Dana-Farber has recently doubled the rate of survival in adults that have been diagnosed with the same form of leukemia as White.

“Having benefitted from Dana-Farber’s care, to me it’s such a powerful event where the community comes together for an amazing cause,” said White. “It’s cool to see the power of the community coming together for the research and care.”

White said Dana-Farber helps foster a support system, which has a huge impact on patients as well as their friends and families.

For Weston resident John Marchiony, when early August comes around on the calendar, it means the Pan-Mass Challenge and his wedding anniversary.

Marchiony has been riding every year since he started in 2006, but has been donating since 1992.

“I rode for the first time because too many people in my life have been affected by cancer,” said Marchiony. “Some have lost the fight, some continue to fight and some have been cured.”

On the bike, Marchiony said it’s impossible not to think about loved ones he has lost to the disease.

“I ride to honor them and support the pursuit of cures,” he said. “At some point during each ride I get very emotional and choked up as I think about all of the people who have gone through this battle. It’s a chance to reflect.”

One of Marchiony’s favorite parts of the event is reading some of the signs held up by supporters and patients along the route.

One that Marchiony won’t ever forget read ‘Thank you. Because of you I am 8.’ The number eight had been crossed out and replaced with 9, and then 10 and so forth.

“There’s so much generosity and gratitude shown over the weekend – it’s reassuring,” said Marchiony.

Some of that generosity is put on display by the thousands of volunteers who help out along the routes, filling cups of water, getting riders ready at starting points and much more.

Weston resident Connie Moore first became involved with the Pan-Mass Challenge as a donor. She started attending the ride, supporting and cheering on riders as they rode past.

One day while watching the ride, Moore thought to herself “I’m here anyways, why aren’t I helping?”

From that point on, Moore has been a volunteer. On the day of the race, Moore starts putting together peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as early as 4 a.m.

Moore herself is a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed with breast and uterine cancer four years ago. She was treated at Dana-Farber.

“It became more personal for me,” said Moore.

Moore, along with 59 other cancer survivors, participated at Fenway Park’s Pan-Mass Challenge Night, where she rode her bike around the warning track and was honored during a pregame ceremony.

White, Marchiony and Moore, along with over 40 other Weston residents, will ride and help out this weekend as bicyclists will traverse the state in the search of a cure for cancer.

To learn more about the Pan-Mass Challenge, or to donate to Dana-Farber, please visit pmc.org.