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Taking Part
Left to right: Pomfret's Maureen Nicholson, John DiIorio, Jason Verraneault of Team Perseverance. They will take part in the 33rd annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge fund-raiser. Courtesy photo.
POMFRET — Aug. 4 and 5 five residents from Pomfret, Maureen Nicholson, John DiIorio, Jason Verraneault, Richard Schad and Matt Fagan, will pedal their way into fund-raising history as participants in the 33rd annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC), the nation’s pioneer charity bike-a-thon that raises more money than any other athletic fund-raising event in the country.
They will be among 5,500 cyclists who will ride with the collective goal of raising $36 million to support adult and pediatric cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund.
Nicholson, DiIorio and Verraneault are riding their third PMC this year on Team Perseverance while this will be Schad’s first year. Team Perseverance was formed when Jacob DiIorio, a student at Pomfret Community School, was diagnosed with leukemia three years ago. He underwent treatments at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for two years and is now cancer free. Jacob’s brothers Ben and Isaac were superstars of support for Jacob and the three DiIorio boys are waiting at the finish line to meet their Dad and the team after the two-day 192-mile ride. Team Perseverance has grown from 5 to 20 strong this year.
PMC riders range in age from 13 to 88. Some are seasoned tri-athletes while others are weekend warriors having trained for this event alone. Most PMC participants ride in honor of a family member or friend lost to, or being treated for, cancer. All share a passion and desire to one day find a cure for the disease. The average PMC cyclist trains for three months, solicits 40 sponsors, and raises more than $6,000. Doctors ride alongside their patients; grandparents ride with their grandchildren; and others show support from the sidelines in the form of donations and cheers. More than 300 riders are cancer survivors or current patients.
“The PMC is the gold standard of athletic fund-raising events,” said Billy Starr, Pan-Massachusetts Challenge founder and executive director. “PMCers are as committed to raising money for cancer research as they are to pedaling the miles. PMC cyclists are all heart and soul.”
During PMC weekend, individual cyclists become part of one family. The camaraderie shared by 5,500 cyclists, more than 3,000 volunteers, and thousands of spectators, is one reason cyclists from 36 states and eight countries return to Massachusetts each August to participate in the PMC.
No other single athletic event raises or contributes more money to charity than the PMC. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $338 million for adult and pediatric cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. The PMC gives 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the Jimmy Fund, a rate of fund-raising that is nearly unequaled within the $3 billion athletic fundraising event industry. In 2011, the PMC raised $35 million, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the philanthropic support of Dana-Farber. More than 230,000 individual contributions were made to last year’s PMC fundraising campaign.
To donate, go to : www.pmc.org, or call (800) WE-CYCLE. Checks can be made payable to PMC, 77 Fourth Ave., Needham, Mass. 02494.