Latest news with #BillyStarr
CBS News
03-08-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pan-Mass Challenge wraps up a successful weekend as many riders honor loved ones
Thousands of riders wrapped up the Pan-Mass Challenge in Provincetown on Sunday. "It was the most amazing Sunday PMC ever. Perfect conditions," WBZ-TV's Lisa Hughes, who rode in the event, said. "Couldn't have been better." Hughes had a chance to chat with some of the participants on the ride, including PMC founder Billy Starr. "I saw great behavior, great attitude. A big success," Starr said. But the true measure of the ride's success? "The money! We gotta raise money. That's what we're here to do." Every dollar raised by the ride goes to cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. This year's goal was set at $76 million. "This morning is special for us because it is our chance to give back to Dana-Farber, who has saved my wife's life three times," said Boston radio host Richard Shertenlieb. He said his wife is currently fighting cancer for the fourth time at Dana-Farber. Former Boston Marathon champion Jack Fultz crossed the finish line for the 23rd time. "Well, the fundraising for sure and what it supports in terms of patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber. That's the primary motive," Fultz said. "I'm kind of a fitness nut as well, so this forces me to stay healthy and exercise on a regular basis." Every cyclist has a reason to ride, including first-time rider Robert Peirce. "My grandmother immigrated from Guatemala, and she didn't speak a ton of English. And she came here, she started a life, she rose my mom, and she was just such a big inspiration," Peirce said. "She passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2010, and I knew that this was something I had to do to honor her."Lisa Hughes contributed to this report.
CBS News
02-08-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Pan-Mass Challenge cyclists begin their journey to Bourne to raise money for cancer research
Thousands of riders began their journey Saturday morning in the annual Pan-Mass Challenge 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 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,
