January 18, 2005
Pan-Massachusetts Challenge
2005 Fact Sheet
About the PMC:
The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge (PMC), presented by the World Champion Boston Red Sox, is the nation's original fundraising bike-a-thon and today raises more money — two, three, and four times more money — than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. The PMC is a model of efficiency for all nonprofit organizations. Last year, the PMC donated 97 cents of every rider-raised dollar directly to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC generates nearly 50 percent of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue. In 2004, 3,762 PMC cyclists raised and contributed $20 million to the Jimmy Fund, bringing its 25-year contribution to more than $122 million.
The Ride:
The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge is a fully supported bike-a-thon which provides food and water stops, mechanical and medical assistance, luggage transportation and lodging through 43 towns across Massachusetts. Cyclists choose from six routes of varying mileage designed to cater to all levels of cycling strength and time availability. Two-day rides include the original 192-mile Sturbridge to Provincetown route; 186-mile Sturbridge-Bourne-Wellesley route; 169-mile Wellesley-Bourne-Provincetown route; or the 166-mile Wellesley-Bourne-Wellesley route. One-day riders cycle the 108-mile Sturbridge-Bourne, or the 89-mile Wellesley-Bourne routes. In 2005, cyclists must raise between $2,000 and $3,000 to ride in the PMC, depending on the chosen route.
When:
The 26th annual PMC will be held on August 5, 6, and 7, 2005. It begins on Friday, Aug. 5 with an opening ceremony that will be televised live on New England Cable News. The ride will have two starting lines on Saturday, Aug. 6, in Sturbridge and in Wellesley, and three finish lines: all one-day riders finish in Bourne on Saturday, Aug. 6 and two-day riders will finish in either Wellesley or Provincetown on Sunday, Aug. 7.
Who:
4,000 cyclists from 35 U.S. states and six countries will ride in PMC 2005. More than 200 riders are cancer survivors or current patients. Some PMC cyclists are weekend warriors; others are trained triathletes. Many PMC participants ride in honor of a family member or friend fighting the disease. Cyclists range in age from 15 to 80. The average PMC cyclist is 43 years old, trains for three months, solicits 40 sponsors and raises $4,500. During PMC weekend and throughout the year, 2,000 volunteers donate their time and nearly 200 corporations provide in-kind donations of products or service.
Growth:
| YEAR | RIDERS | CONTRIBUTION |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 36 | $10,200 |
| 1985 | 472 | $250,000 |
| 1990 | 980 | $1.3 million |
| 1995 | 1,715 | $3.5 million |
| 2000 | 2,847 | $12.5 million |
| 2003 | 3,584 | $16.2 million |
| 2004 | 3,762 | $20 million |
| 2005 | 4,000 | $21 million GOAL |
