The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge will celebrate its 30th annual contribution to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in style. This year's annual check presentation party will be held at the beautiful and very cool, new House of Blues on Lansdowne Street in Boston Dec. 5. PMCers get your tickets here. (You will need your PMC ID#) The 30th PMC Gala and Check Presentation will celebrate the amazing commitment of PMC riders, volunteers and supporters who braved a tough economic climate to meet the demands of the PMC and help fight cancer in 2009. And, it promises to be a great time for all. The dress code is denim, so wear your favorite jeans to party the night away. Once again, the PMC donation to Dana Farber will represent 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar. The amount of the donation is kept secret until the event. The gala includes dinner and cocktails, a speaking program, special guests and the check presentation by PMC Founder Billy Starr to DFCI President Dr. Edward Benz. Then, there will be plenty of time for dancing and celebrating. Two bands will play well into the night. The PMC expects about 1,000 people to attend. The check presentation tradition started simply in 1980 when Starr gave the check to then Jimmy Fund Chairman Ken Coleman in the parking lot of the Jimmy Fund building. Over the years, the check presentation has had many forms: a mid-week luncheon at Jimmy's Harborside, a slideshow presentation and dinner at Dana-Farber, a winter bicycle parade at General Cinema in Chestnut Hill, a day at Fenway Park that included tours of the field, and a gala at the Boston Convention and Expo Center. Curious about more PMC history – check out our 30 Years in 30 Weeks series. Read about the 2008 check presentation event here and here. The 30th PMC was held Aug. 1 and 2, where 5,000 cyclists biked up to 190 miles to raise money to fight cancer. The bikers raised a minimum of $1,000 to $4,200 depending on which route they chose. On average, 90 percent of all PMCers, exceeded the minimum fundraising contribution and one-third raised more than twice the amount required. The ride is made possible thanks to 2,800 volunteers and dozens of corporate sponsors. The check presentation will bring the 2009 PMC season to a close and get us all excited to kick off the 2010 PMC season. Registration begins in January.
