Pan-Mass Challenge: Riders (and their bicycles) converge on Sturbridge this weekend
A swarm of bicyclists will converge on Sturbridge in the coming days, with the 44th Pan-Mass Challenge kicking off at 5:30 a.m. Saturday from the Sturbridge Host Hotel.
Many of the riders in the two-day fundraising event will be tackling a 186-mile route to Provincetown.
Here's a look at the race:
The history
The Pan-Mass Challenge dates to 1980, founded by Billy Starr, whose mother died from melanoma at 49. His desire to help find a cure spurred the creation of the fundraising event for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The first ride, with 36 participants, raised $10,200 for cancer research. That tally has since surpassed a total of $900 million.
The routes
The riders will cover a range of routes, some shorter than others. The longer routes, notably from Sturbridge to the tip of the Cape, are covered over two days, beginning early Saturday and ending, for many, about noon Sunday. Some riders will stop at the start of the Cape (109 miles). Others will have shorter routes, with different starting points, such as the 25-mile ride from Wellesley to Patriot Place in Foxborough.
The riders and volunteers
More than 6,400 riders are expected to participate in this year's event. Organizers say the field will include cyclists from six countries and 44 states. Many of the riders are cancer survivors or current patients. Of the estimated 3,000 volunteers, 160 are employees of Dana-Farber.
Riders from Worcester: Joel Baker, Mike Brown, Ed Dix, Mike Donovan, William Egan, Steven Feingold, Allen Filiberti, John Fleming, Andrew Joseph, Andrew Keane, Christopher Kiritsy, Connor Lamoureux, John Leary, Bryan Quach, Brett St. Pierre, Keith Sullivan, Scott Taylor and Hector Villodas.
The money
The goal this year is $70 million, with each participant in the main event (186 miles) required to raise at least $6,000. The Pan-Mass Challenge is the largest single contributor to Dana-Farber, according to event organizers. An estimated 280,000 individuals pledge money to the thousands of riders, organizers say.
The hotels
Sturbridge Host Hotel is at the center of the action at the starting area. A dozen other hotels will also be packed with riders (and their bicycles), mostly in Sturbridge but also in Auburn. Nichols College in Dudley provides lodging.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Pan-Mass Challenge: Riders (and their bicycles) converge on Sturbridge this weekend
