Pan Mass. Challenge Raises $35M For Cancer Study

Organizers of the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge charity bicycle ride are presenting a $35 million contribution to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Jimmy Fund on Friday.

The check for cancer research and treatment to be presented at a ceremony scheduled at Fenway is $2 million - or nearly 6 percent - more than the charity donated last year and is back up to pre-recession levels. This year's total is also $1 million more than the goal.

"We're back to tying our record largest gift in 2008 and we've recovered virtually all the ridership we had in 2008," said event found and executive director Billy Starr.

After raising $35 million in 2008, the total dipped to $30 million two years ago.

Starr expects the event to grow even more in the coming years.

"We're ready to grow," he said. "People get into this in a big way because for so many people it's a personal issue."

The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge has now raised $338 million for cancer research in its 32-year history.

The main event, a two-day ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, as well as 10 shorter rides, gives 100 percent of money raised to charity.

This year's event drew more than 5,000 cyclists, including seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, as well as Massachusetts Sens. John Kerry and Scott Brown.

Next year's ride is scheduled for Aug. 4 and 5.