Pan-Mass Challenge cyclists begin their journey to Bourne to raise money for cancer research
This is the last year the cyclists will be starting their ride in Wellesley and Sturbridge, where they've began since 1981, on their way to Bourne. Next year, the ride will begin from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.
"The memories in Sturbridge and how we built this event out here...it's part of the history of the PMC and it's been great but when we move to Worcester and the College of Holy Cross, we have more modern amenities, more ability to grow and take care of people with greater comfort when you realize the riders have big distances. So I'm excited for today, this weekend, and also for next year," said PMC founder Billy Starr on Saturday morning.
This year's riders come from 12 countries and 47 states and territories. Many are riding in honor of or in memory of a loved one with cancer. More than 1,000 riders and volunteers are also cancer survivors or patients themselves. Starr said despite raising more than a billion dollars over the years, their work will continue.
"Cancer's not gone, so our work does not change. That's the mission to ride, funds to Dana-Farber to do their work and look, there's a lot riding on us, as I'm fond of saying. Everybody here embraces the mission, we have a fabulous weekend, the PMC weekend is the secret sauce, it fuels all of us all year long. And it's worth ponying up and raising a ton of money and we're all honored to have that opportunity," said Starr.
One of the teams leaving from Wellesley Saturday morning was Team 9, a group of employees, friends and family of the Boston Red Sox. This year, they're riding in memory of former Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield and his wife Stacy.
"It is just such a blessing to be out here with everyone and Dawn and I keep coming back because we have a lot of people to ride for, both in memory and in honor of," said Team 9 member Kathryn Nixon. ""Also dedicating our ride this year to Stacey and Tim, not only were they really close friends of ours but they inspired us, just the way they loved others and served others and we're just honored to be here."
"Well honestly, if you look around and you can see all the causes, everybody that has a name on their shirt or something that represents why they're here, Dana-Farber has been such a blessing," said Team 9 member Dawn Timlin,
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Five-a-side tournament raises over £1,300 for youth facilities
The Kempsey community united for the V3 Transport Services Charity Shield 2025. The 5-a-side football tournament held on August 10 aimed to raise funds for the village's youth facilities. Generously sponsored by Worcester Dog Walking, the event was packed with plenty of fast-paced action. Hanley Swan emerged as champions, remaining unbeaten throughout the tournament. Is Ya Motherwell secured second place after an unexpected semi-final victory over Kempsey Allstars. The Allstars, who dominated their group, secured the bronze medal after a strong performance in the 3rd place playoff. The tournament has so far raised more than £1,300, contributing significantly to enhancing local resources for young people, providing spaces for learning, growth, and sports activities. Organisers thanked all the event's partners and sponsors. "With a great atmosphere, exciting matches, and a united sense of purpose, the V3 Transport Services Charity Shield 2025 proved to be more than just a football tournament—it was a testament to the strength and generosity of the Kempsey community," they said.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Associated Press
Access Fixtures Launches New Solar Single Pickleball Court Lighting Packages
Access Fixtures' new solar pickleball court lighting packages. Various footcandle levels and excellent uniformity, simple installation for single courts. 'SUNA solar single pickleball lighting packages offer unparalleled, shadow-free court illumination. These solutions eliminates trenching & electricity bills, greatly enhancing the playing experience.'— Steven Rothschild, CEO WORCESTER, MA, UNITED STATES, August 11, 2025 / / -- Access Fixtures, a leading manufacturer of high-performance commercial and sports lighting, today announced the launch of new solar-powered single pickleball court lighting packages specifically designed for single pickleball courts. Featuring the highly efficient SUNA Solar LED Light fixtures, these innovative pickleball court lights provide reliable, off-grid illumination, ideal for new installations, remote sites, or cost-effective retrofits. Pickleball's rapid growth across the U.S. has amplified the demand for well-lit courts that support evening play. Recognizing the need for sustainable and high-performance solutions, Access Fixtures has developed these specialized solar lighting solutions to meet both performance and regulatory standards, ensuring enhanced visibility, safety, and an optimal playing experience with their advanced pickleball court lights. The demand for quality pickleball court lights is soaring, and with these new solar packages, we're providing a sustainable and incredibly efficient solution. SUNA LED solar pickleball court light fixtures eliminate the need for costly trenching and ongoing electricity bills, making them perfect for locations where grid power is unavailable or too expensive to run. Players will benefit from bright, uniform light, while court owners will appreciate the long-term energy savings and minimal maintenance. Learn more about Solar vs. Grid-Powered Pickleball Court Lighting The new solar pickleball court lights packages offer a range of footcandle levels and impressive uniformity ratios to suit various levels of play: 20-Foot Pole Configurations for Pickleball Court Lighting: 2 x 20' Poles, Avg 30fc, 2.16 Max/Min: A robust solution for recreational play, providing ample illumination with efficiency for your pickleball court lights. 2 x 20' Poles, Avg 39fc, 2.18 Max/Min: Stepping up the intensity for club or competitive level play, offering brighter pickleball court lights. 25-Foot Pole Configurations for Pickleball Court Lighting: 2 x 25' Poles, Avg 42fc, 1.86 Max/Min: Provides high-performance illumination for advanced club and competition courts, ensuring exceptional visibility and minimal glare with these powerful pickleball court lights. 'These SUNA LED solar lights for single pickleball courts represent a significant step forward, offering unparalleled, consistent illumination across every inch of the pickleball court, ensuring no shadows or dim spots,' said Access Fixtures CEO, Steven Rothschild. 'This innovation also eliminates the substantial burden of complex trenching and ongoing electricity bills, providing a truly off-grid and economical solution. This will fundamentally enhance the playing experience for enthusiasts everywhere, making evening play more accessible and enjoyable than ever before.' Each SUNA LED solar sports light is engineered for durability, boasting an EXTREME-LIFE L70 rating of 150,000 hours, IP66 waterproofing, and an IK08 impact resistance rating, ensuring reliable performance in all weather conditions. With robust monocrystalline solar panels and long-lasting LiFePO4 lithium batteries, these pickleball court light solutions are built for long-term dependability. These off-grid pickleball court lights solutions simplify installation by eliminating complex wiring and disruptive trenching, significantly reducing upfront labor and long-term energy costs. They are ideal for new court constructions, upgrading existing facilities, or illuminating courts in remote locations without access to the electrical grid. About Access Fixtures Access Fixtures is a factory-direct manufacturer of high-performance luminaires for commercial, industrial, and sports lighting applications. The company's expertise encompasses photometric studies, lighting design, and the provision of customized solutions tailored to meet specific performance and budgetary requirements, including specialized pickleball court lights. Access Fixtures offers a wide range of lighting fixtures, including LED flood lights, area lights, high bays, and specialized sports lighting, all engineered for maximum durability and efficiency. Visit or call 1-800-468-9925 to speak to an Access Fixtures Lighting Specialist. Steven Rothschild Access Fixtures +1 800-468-9925 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook YouTube TikTok X Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
ChildFund Rugby ambassador relishing record-breaking World Cup challenge
By Laura Howard ChildFund Rugby ambassador Lexi Chambers was overwhelmed as she was presented with the opening matchday whistle for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 at Allianz Stadium ahead of her world record-breaking fundraising challenge. Chambers is attempting to complete 10 ultramarathons in 10 days in a non-sport wheelchair, covering the distance between Allianz Stadium, Twickenham and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland to fundraise for ChildFund Rugby. She will time her arrival in Sunderland to coincide with England's opening match against the USA where she will deliver the official match whistle. 'It's amazing. The whistle side is a real shock and just holding it and being here [at Allianz Stadium] is a dream come true for a rugby fan,' said Chambers, who set off on her journey from Twickenham Stoop on Sunday. 'I'm fighting the urge to kiss the turf at the moment, it's like hallowed ground. I'm overwhelmed. 'Watching the girls playing and knowing they've got the biggest tournament of their lives coming up and they will have given everything they can to get there always inspires me. 'When the days get tough, I'll think of them and how they're going to be feeling when they come to their big challenge.' Chambers is a five-time world record holder, Army veteran and endurance athlete who has fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome - with the latter resulting in her leg being amputated. Having covered 874 miles in 45 days from John O'Groats to Land's End last year for rugby, she is now attempting another world record for ChildFund Rugby to inspire others to get involved in the sport. 'I want to show that sport is for everybody. If you have any adversity in your life you have two choices: you can say that's it or you can change your life for the better,' she said. 'It's not easy but it's possible and you only get one life so you may as well be the best you can with it. 'I was offered a sports wheelchair but I thought most people don't have access to things like a sportschair, they can be around £60,000. Why should sport just be for people who can afford it? It should be for everyone.' It is a message that perfectly encapsulates the aims of World Rugby's charity partner ChildFund Rugby, who use the sport as a tool for development across the world. 'Lexi's is a legacy that people have to hear because it can be so inspiring. Other people will hear that and it will create a knock on effect,' said ChildFund Ambassador and former Leicester Tigers player Zainab 'Zee' Alema. 'That's what we want to do, especially with this World Cup. It's inspiring different people, from different walks of life, to just get involved in sport.' It puts rugby, and the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, at the forefront of creating change with the tournament set to be the biggest iteration of the tournament yet. Managing Director of Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Sarah Massey handed over the golden whistle to Chambers at the Allianz Stadium and was left feeling inspired by her challenge. 'The whistle is one of the most iconic pieces of equipment that we will use in any of our matches and the fact Lexi is breaking another world record to get it to Sunderland is extraordinary,' she said. 'It's such a symbolic moment to be able to link that with such an amazing cause like ChildFund, the two together just represent the spirit of the Women's Rugby World Cup.' Chambers will be fundraising for the charity along the route as every kilometre acts as a call to action to invest in young people, to challenge what's possible, and to celebrate rugby as a platform for change. 'Any time that people purchase tickets there's an opportunity to donate, when they buy merchandise at the stands they can round-up and donate, and there are places on the website to support Lexi,' explained Co-Director of ChildFund Rugby Megan Knight. 'There are so many opportunities to get involved and donate at such an exciting moment for women's rugby.'
