Biz Bash Boston: Pan-Mass Challenge Anniversary
“This is an example of what is possible when people work together,” said Bill Starr, founder and executive director of the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, of Saturday’s $270 million check presentation to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Jimmy Fund.
The 30th anniversary celebration for the fund-raising bike-a-thon was held at the House of Blues, where nearly 800 denimclad cyclists and volunteers gathered to commemorate 30 years of riding and a total of $270 million raised for cancer research over the life of the Pan-Mass Challenge. This year’s fund-raising total topped $30 million, the third largest in the event’s history and the single largest contribution to the Jimmy Fund this year.
The event, produced by Rafanelli Events, was a thank-you to the riders, Starr said, and also provided stewardship for the group. The Pan-Mass Challenge hosts a check presentation event each year, typically of the smaller, more formal type, but this year’s was larger and dressed down. The $75 ticket included beer and wine served by House of Blues’ cocktail waitstaff, passed appetizers including beef skewers, quesadillas, and crab cakes, and an ice cream sundae bar.