This August 1 and 2, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is hosting its annual bike-a-thon across Massachusetts, and SoCal riders will be among the nearly 6,500 cyclists and more than 3,500 volunteers participating in the event to raise money for cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, with a fundraising goal of $79 million for 2026. The PMC, which raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraiser in the world, is aiming to raise more than ever this year.
100 Percent of Rider-Raised Funds Support Dana-Farber Cancer Research
This year’s PMC comes at an especially critical time, with federal research support shrinking, grant approval rates reaching historic lows, and cancer cases continuing to rise. For the 20th consecutive year, 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar will go directly to Dana-Farber, one of the nation’s top three hospitals for cancer research and care.
SoCal Riders to Participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge
Linde Hotchkiss of San Diego, husband and wife riders Tom and Kathleen Bogan of La Quinta, and Kevin Connolly of Thousand Oaks are taking part in this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge, the two day Massachusetts bike-a-thon that raises money for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Their commitment goes well beyond the miles they will ride in Mass. Each year, they must train in Southern California, transport their bikes across the country and then complete a route of up to 192 miles from central Massachusetts to Cape Cod.
- Linde Hotchkiss has been traveling from San Diego to ride the PMC since 2008. Over the years, she has completed the event despite mechanical issues, dehydration, cramping and illness. She has described the ride as an annual pilgrimage and says the challenges she faces on the bike offer only a small glimpse of what cancer patients endure.
- Tom and Kathleen Bogan are a husband and wife cycling team from La Quinta who will make the journey together, offering a potential story about how couples train, fundraise and take on a major endurance challenge as a team.
- Kevin Connolly of Thousand Oaks is another Southern California rider whose personal connection to the PMC has inspired him to travel across the country and ride in support of cancer research and patient care.
“Now, More Than Ever”: The 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge Theme
“The theme for this year’s PMC, which is ‘now, more than ever,’ underscores the paramount importance of every single dollar raised in fueling the search for a cure,” said Billy Starr, founder and chairman of the PMC. “We are endlessly grateful to every rider, volunteer, donor, and sponsor who makes the PMC possible. Because of their training miles, long hours of volunteering, generous support, and unwavering commitment, we are moving ever closer to a world without cancer.”
A Billion-Dollar Legacy in the Fight Against Cancer
Since its inception in 1980, the PMC has raised $1.125 billion for Dana-Farber, making it the organization’s largest single contributor and accounting for 67 percent of the annual revenue of The Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber’s community-driven fundraising arm. This unrestricted annual funding has empowered and accelerated advancements in cancer research, deeply benefitting patients across the world.
Thousands of Riders Unite Across the Globe
During each annual PMC weekend, thousands of cyclists and volunteers come together from across the world, hailing from 44 US states and eight countries, with a shared purpose of raising as much money as possible for Dana-Farber. Cyclists ride routes ranging from 25 to 177 miles. Included among these participants is the PMC Living Proof ® community, riders and volunteers who were previously treated or are currently undergoing cancer treatment and serve as Living Proof of the progress made through raising funds for cancer research and treatment.
Registration Remains Open for the 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge
There is still time to participate in this year’s Pan-Mass Challenge. Folks interested in getting involved can learn more and register at PMC.org.
About the Pan-Mass Challenge
The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is a bike-a-thon that today raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the world. Founded in 1980 by Billy Starr – who remains the event’s founder & chairman, an annual cyclist, and a fundraiser – the PMC has raised $1.125 billion for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. As Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor, the organization generates 67 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to fueling cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber. In addition to its two-day bike-a-thon across Massachusetts, the PMC is powered by further “spokes in the wheel,” with initiatives including the PMC Winter Cycle, an indoor spin event, PMC Unpaved, a gravel bike ride, and PMC Kids Rides, mini bike-a-thons for children ages 2 to 15. The PMC attracts riders and volunteers from 44 states and eight countries and over 300,000 individual donors. Across events, the PMC has successfully melded support from committed cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and individual donors, all of whom are essential to the PMC’s goal and model: to attain maximum fundraising efficiency while increasing its annual gift. The PMC’s aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber’s doctors and researchers with the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers. For more information, visit www.pmc.org.
