A Mattapoisett elementary school teacher is planning to rack up more than miles in this year's Pan-Mass Challenge. He's also planning to raise as much money as he can for a cancer cure.

Kyle Letendre, who is finishing up his eighth year of teaching at Old Hammondtown School, is attempting his first Pan-Mass Challenge and is looking to raise over $1,200 for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a cancer treatment and research center in Boston.

The Institute has been on the cutting edge of cancer research, developing leukemia treatments that produced complete remission in up to 50 percent of patients, as well as identifying a gene which increases the risk of colon cancer.

For Letendre, the Pan-Mass Challenge was an inevitable conclusion. The avid biker said, "I started getting more into biking over the last year, and I've always wanted to do something like this for charity."

He couldn't have picked a better charity - 100 percent of the rider-raised funds at the Pan-Mass Challenge are donated directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and The Jimmy Fund.

"The Pan-Mass Challenge raised $47 million last year," Letendre noted. "They're trying to raise $48 million this year."

Believe it or not, the benefits of the ride will also be felt closer to home - or to school, if you will. Letendre, who says that his favorite part of his job are the students he works with, sees it as a good way to inspire them to take action.  "I want to provide a strong role model for them and encourage them to give back," he explained.

There are quite a few different courses within the Pan-Mass Challenge, and sadly this means that local residents won't see Letendre ride through town. That particular ride tallies to 110 miles, and Letendre felt that might be a bit much for his first Pan-Mass Challenge ride.

Instead, he's tackling a 50-mile route which will bring him through Wellesley and Foxboro on August 5. He doesn't plan to quit after that though. "If everything goes well, I'd love to do it again."

Letendre is appreciative of the Pan-Mass Challenge volunteers, as well as the response from local residents. "The response has been so great," he said. "People are so helpful and responsive."

To help Letendre get to his fundraising goal, visit profile.pmc.org/KL0231 or visit pmc.org, click 'donate' and type in Letendre's name.