The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) began in 1980, when Billy Starr started the bike-a-thon to raise money to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The PMC donates 100 percent of every rider’s donations, contributing over $717 million in its 40 year history. David White, Chairman and Treasurer of R.H. White, and his team, the Cyclosaurasses, have been riding since 2008 and still plan to ride and fundraise during the COVID-19 Pandemic … in their own way.
This year, the PMC looks a little different, understandably. PMC 2020 Reimagined will take place on August 1 with riders doing their own independent ride to stay safe during the pandemic. The organized ride from Sturbridge to Bourne (and beyond) cannot safely take place due to the incredible amount of riders (6,804 in 2019) and volunteers (4,000 in 2019).
David and team have created their own route that will bring them the 109 miles around central Massachusetts and then safely back home. They will also be following CDC guidelines to ensure all riders stay safe, wearing masks, when they are within six feet of each other, but also discouraging drafting other riders to maintain a safe distance.
In the teams history, starting in 2008 with David and his friend Joe, they have raised a total $492,708 (as of 7/29/20). The team has grown to include other R.H. White past and present employees including Tom Descoteaux, former Vice President, Thomas White of our Construction Services Division, Jared Whitney from our WhiteWater subsidiary and Phil Cyr, former Vice President of Marketing. This year the team is at its largest with 14 riders. To date, the PMC organization has raised $20,216,606 this year, which is less than half of what they usually raise for this event. Unfortunately, that will be detrimental to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the strides they are making in their research to cure cancer.
When COVID-19 is behind us, cancer will still be here until we find a cure. If you would like to help Team Cyclosaurass and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, please consider donating to the ride, #PMC2020Reimagined.
