Pan Mass Challenge bike-a-thon draws 17 local cyclists

Jul 20, 2018

Seventeen cyclists from Mattapoisett, Rochester and Marion will pedal up to 192 miles August 4 and 5 in the 2018 Pan-Mass Challenge.

During the Pan-Mass Challenge weekend, the tri-town cyclists will be among more than 6,300 riders from 43 states and 10 countries who will gather in Massachusetts to participate in the ride to raise funds for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Cyclists include everyone from seasoned triathletes to weekend warriors and range in age from 13 to 85, organizers said. Many ride to honor a family member or friend lost to, or being treated for cancer.

Of the 17 local cyclists signed up to participate in this year's Pan-Mass Challenge, six are from Mattapoisett, 11 from Rochester, and one from Marion.

They include: Kim DeLeo, Doscher Hobler, Heather Hobler, William Huggins, and Dirk Murphy, all of Mattapoisett. And, Debora Bacchiocchi, James Forker, John Gonneville, Sheila Kozlowski, Calib LaRue, Scotlyn LaRue, Kyle Letendre, Maureen Mullen, Andrew Revell, Keith Riquinha, and Lazaro N. Rosa, all of Rochester; and Bill Tilden of Marion.

Designed to cater to all levels of cycling and fundraising ability, the PMC offers 12 different routes, varying in mileage and difficulty, that pass through 46 towns across the state, with starting lines in Sturbridge, Wellesley and Bourne. Cyclists are required to raise between $600 and $8,000, depending on the chosen route.

The ride donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to Dana-Farber through the its fundraising arm, the Jimmy Fund, and is the institute’s largest single contributor, raising more than 53 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.

To make a financial contribution to a rider or become a "virtual rider," visit www.pmc.org, or call 800-WE-CYCLE.