FAQ

The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-thon that raises more money for charity than any other event in the country. 100 percent of rider-raised dollars are donated to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research and treatment.

Since its founding in 1980, the PMC has raised more than $717 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which uses that money for cancer research and treatment. The 2019 gift was $63 million, the largest financial gift ever given to Dana-Farber.

You can find a breakdown of how Dana-Farber used the PMC’s annual gift here.

In addition to the PMC held each August, there are two additional programs – the PMC Winter Cycle and PMC Kids Rides. The PMC Winter Cycle is an indoor spin event comprised of six 45-minutes sessions held at Fenway Park; the 2020 event will be Saturday, January 25 from 9 am to 3 pm.

PMC Kids Rides are mini bike-a-thons that involve children ages 2 to 15 in the PMC mission by providing them the opportunity to fight cancer just like adults. The program has 35 Kids Rides and is growing. 

Like the PMC, 100 percent of donations to the PMC Winter Cycle and PMC Kids Rides go to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Donations can be made via credit card, check and a number of other methods.

To search for a rider to donate to online, click here. 

To donate to a rider via check, make the check payable to the Pan-Mass Challenge, PMC, Jimmy Fund and/or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. If a donor makes out a check to a rider, the rider should endorse and sign it over to the Pan-Mass Challenge. Include the rider’s name and/or eGift ID on the memo line of the check. Checks can be mailed to the PMC office – 77 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02494.

Checks can also be deposited via mobile deposit in the PMC 2019 app for iOS and Android. 

Click here to learn about additional ways to give to the PMC, such as through a donor advised fund, stock, IRA, etc.

All donations made online will be acknowledged with an emailed tax receipt. Donations made by check that are $250 or more will receive a tax acknowledgment via USPS.  Tax receipts will be provided upon request for any donations less than $250.

To request a request for a previous donation, please email panmass@pmc.org

Mobile deposit in the PMC app – available for iOS and Android – is the fastest way to deposit your checks.

Simple fundraising checks – those that will be applied only to your fundraising – should be deposited through mobile deposit.

Checks requiring special attention (those with matching gifts forms, in honor or in memory donations requesting a tribute letter, checks to be split among several riders, etc.) should be mailed to the PMC office for staff to process. The office address is 77 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02494.

The PMC offers a range of routes and fundraising commitments. Routes range from 25 to 192 miles and fundraising commitments range from $600 to $8,000. Choose a route that fits your schedule, cycling ability and fundraising capacity.

Riders who register earlier in the year are the most successful at fundraising and training. Find fundraising tools and tips here

Heavy Hitters are PMC riders and fundraisers who exceed their fundraising commitments and receive recognition from the PMC for their fundraising efforts. The 2019 Heavy Hitter level is $8,500. Learn more about PMC Heavy Hitters here

PMC 2020 rider registration will open in January. The exact dates will be announced in late 2019.

Rider registration opens first to PMC Heavy Hitters, then to alumni, and then to everyone. Registration will remain open until July 15, 2020, but routes will fill up before then. If you plan to ride in the 2020 PMC, we recommend you register as soon as registration opens in January.

All routes are open to riders age 15 and older. The Sunday Wellesley routes are open to riders ages 13 and older; riders ages 13 to 17 on this route have a lower fundraising commitment than riders than 18 and older. To learn more about the routes and minimums, click here.

Riders younger than 13 can ride in a PMC Kids Ride, which are open to riders ages 2 to 15. Learn more at kids.pmc.org

The PMC offers a range of routes and fundraising commitments. Routes range from 25 to 192 miles and fundraising commitments range from $600 to $8,000. Choose a route that fits your schedule, cycling ability and fundraising capacity.

Life Time, the official training and nutrition sponsor of the PMC, has created training and nutrition guides to help riders prepare. 

If the route you would like to ride is still available, yes, you may change your route. Email panmass@pmc.org to request a route change. We limit the number of riders on each route and popular routes fill quickly, so your requested route may not be available.

If you switch to a shorter route with a lower fundraising commitment than the one you originally registered for, you will still be held to your original fundraising commitment. 

If you switch to a longer route with a higher fundraising commitment than the one you originally registered for, your fundraising commitment will increase to that of your new route.

You may cancel your ride, however, all riders registered for any route are committed upon registration to meet the fundraising minimum of their respective route whether or not they ride in the PMC ride. The fundraising minimum deadline is October 1.

Volunteer registration opens in spring 2020, first to alumni volunteers and then to everyone. The exact registration dates will be announced in the winter.

Volunteer registration will remain open until July 15 but popular volunteer locations fill very quickly in the spring. If you plan to volunteer, we recommend you register as soon as registration opens in March.

The PMC needs volunteers immediately before and after PMC weekend, as well as on the weekend itself. All available volunteer positions can be found here while the current year’s registration period is open.

The PMC also needs volunteers throughout the year for various events and office tasks. To learn more about these positions, click here

You must at least 13 years old to volunteer for the PMC.

We recommend you register on Friday, no matter whether you are riding on Saturday or Sunday. Rider registration runs from 2 to 8 pm in both Sturbridge and Wellesley on Friday. Registering Friday night will allow you more time before your ride.

All riders must present a photo ID to register and pick up their own registration packet (credentials and jersey) from their registered starting location.

Rider registration is also available in Sturbridge Saturday morning from 4:30 to 5:15 am, and in Wellesley Saturday from 5:30 to 6:30 am and Sunday from 6 to 7 am.

In Bourne, rider registration is open from 12 to 6 pm on Saturday in the gym at Mass Maritime Academy. Sunday morning, rider registration is from 4:45 to 5:30 am at the Beachmoor in Bourne (11 Buttermilk Way).

If you are registered to ride on Sunday from Bourne, you can register in Wellesley on Friday night or Saturday morning. After that, you can register in the gym at Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne.

During the ride, you should carry your cell phone and a charging cable (in a Ziploc bag), your photo ID, your health insurance card, any prescription medications, your car keys (if you drove to your PMC starting location), rain gear, and two water bottles. You will need your photo ID to register at the start of PMC weekend. 

All luggage for PMC weekend should not exceed 20 pounds. You can find the suggested packing list here

Bring your bag and bike with you when you register. You can leave your bike at your start location (security is provided). In Wellesley, you can load your bag Friday afternoon from 2 to 8 pm or Saturday morning from 5:30 to 6:30 am. In Sturbridge, you can load your luggage Saturday from 4 to 5:15 am.

 You will receive your luggage tags at registration. Place appropriately tagged luggage on the truck with your lodging destination.

Family, friends and supporters are welcome along the PMC route! Because of space constraints, however, only riders and volunteers are allowed to enter the Mass Maritime Academy campus in Bourne and the Provincetown Inn.

If your family would like to watch you finish at MMA, they may meet you at the finish line area but may not enter the campus. 

If your family would like to join you at the finish in Provincetown, we recommend you finish at the Monument Finish (previously Provincetown Family Finish) instead of at the Provincetown Inn. Friends and family are welcome at the Monument Finish.

Each rider’s bike tag is equipped with a tracker, which can be followed at RTRT.me. More information will be provided closer to PMC 2019 weekend.

Search by egift ID or rider or team name on the PMC Photo App powered by Photo Butler. The PMC Photo App is available for iOS and Android.