Pan-Mass Challenge Sunday highlights

Posted by Larry Holmes August 3, 2008 at 8:20 am

(Prat Thakkar, NECN: Bourne, MA) – The seconds and final day of this year’s Pan Mass Challenge and thousands of cyclist are pedaling across Massachusetts on the course’s final stretch.

Many got an early start this morning in Bourne as the sun was just starting to rise.

NECN reporter Prat Thakkar was able to catch some of the riders before the day began.

(Ally Donnely, NECN: Provincetown, MA) – The Bourne Bridge was filled with more bicycles than cars on Sunday morning as day two of the Pan Mass Challenge got under way earlier in the morning.
Bourne was the starting point for most riders on Sunday.
Many of them are heading to Provincetown.
For some it will be the end to a 190 mile trek across the Bay State.
The Volunteers are ready and waiting for them at the finish line.
Pat Walsh a volunteer for the past six years from Beverly Massachusetts is personally connected to challenge.
NECN reporter Ally Donnelly has more on the story from Provincetown.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Pat-Walsh-has-personal-connection-to-Pan-Mass-Challenge

(Prat Thakkar, NECN) – Many of the riders have had their lives touched in some way by cancer.
Some are survivors, others are riding in honor of people who lost the fight to cancer.
Among the crowd on Sunday morning in Bourne was a group of riders who call themselves the Patriot Platelet Pedalers.
NECN reporter Prat Thakkar tells us why they are riding.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Patriot-Platelet-Pedalers-ride-for-cure-in-Pan-Mass/

(Ally Donnelly, NECN: Provincetown, MA) – The finish line is coming into sight for the PMC riders.
Cyclist who choose the Sturbridge to Provincetown route are finishing up at 190 mile ride across the state.
The first finishers have already arrived and NECN reporter Ally Donnelly was cheering them on.
She had a chance to talk with Rawson Hubbell a member of Team Jean. This group of riders from Wayland are riding for a cancer victim that died last year.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Team-Jean-rides-into-Provincetown-MA

(Ally Donnelly, NECN: Bourne, MA) – Well it’s not your typical Cape Cod traffic jam.
Thousands of bikers are headed over the Bourne bridge on Sunday. This is the last leg of the 29th Annual Pan Mass Challenge.
The event raises money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
NECN reporter Ally Donnelly is in Bourne with Cindy Guillen a 12 year rider for the Pan Mass Challenge. Cindy rides in honor of her mom who passed away in 1987.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Cindy-Guillen-honors-mom-by-riding-in-Pan-Mass

(John Moroney, NECN: Wellesley, MA) – Many of the Pan Mass Challenge riders are finishing their ride in Wellesley Massachusetts on Sunday at Babson College.
Some of the cyclist have travelled from 36 states and eight countries to ride in this years PMC ride. Nearly 300 riders are cancer survivors or current patients.
NECN reporter John Moroney has more on the riders from Wellesley, Massachusetts.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Pan-Mass-riders-arrive-in-Wellesley

(Ally Donnelly, NECN: Provincetown, MA) – It’s the end of a long weekend for weary PMC riders.
They pedaled across the Bay State on Saturday and Sunday with the goal of raising $35 million for cancer research and treatment.
Most of the riders started in Bourne on Sunday morning and from there traveled to Wellesley or Provincetown.
Some of the Provincetown riders completed a 190 mile journey.
NECN reporter Ally Donnelly was at the finish line in Provincetown with some of the riders to talk about the trek across the state.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Pan-Mass-Challenge-riders-close-in-on-finish-line

(John Moroney, NECN: Wellesley, MA) – There was a lot of cheers at Babson College as riders began crossing the finish line in Wellesley.
Riders finishing here on Sunday rode anywhere from 47 to 180 miles, all in the fight against cancer.
NECN reporter John Moroney has more of the stories from the finish line in Wellesley, MA.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/PMC-riders-close-in-on-Wellesley-MA

(Kristen Caira, NECN) – Every rider in the Pan Mass Challenge has a reason why they chose to get involved.
For Andy Spencer, it’s the memory of his neighbor, a mother murdered in her Medfield home.
She always wanted him to ride with her and this year he’s riding for her.
NECN reporter Kristen Caira has more on the story.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Memory-of-neighbor-inspires-Andy-Spencer-to-ride-in-PMC

(Ally Donnelly, NECN) – It was a long ride — two days total — but well worth it for the riders in the 2008 Pan Mass Challenge. First time riders and long time riders crossed the finish line in Provincetown, on Sunday. First timer Emily Thorne said that all the effort of these riders pales in comparison to what those fighting cancer go through. Justin Bosley of Team LEK echoes that thought. Rick Bartlett rides for his son Trevor, who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of melanoma. Michelle Horgan rides for the brother she lost, who was just 26 at the time. She is very grateful to have the opportunity to ride and support those who are fighting the disease. One set of brother and sister ride a tandem bicycle, which they say would entertain their mother who lost her battle with cancer. Boots Woodfin is a PMC volunteer who cheered the riders as they crossed the finish line.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/PMC-riders-cross-finish-line-in-Provincetown

(Scot Yount, NECN) – NECN has been known to cover the PMC for years, but what some might not know is that 10 NECN employees took park in the 2008 Pan Mass Challenge. We are so very proud of each of them. NECN’s Scot Yount caught up with Team NECN on the path.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Team-NECN-rides-the-PMC/

(NECN) – It has been a great weekend for the Pan Mass Challenge, and it could only happen because of the people involved.

Our Mark Anderson takes a look at some of the sights and sounds of the 2008 PMC.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Sights-and-sounds-of-the-PMCM

(John Moroney, NECN) – As the PMC draws to a close for 2008, riders crossed the finish line at Babson College in Wellesley. Angela Braman put the bike ride into perspective compared to what those fighting cancer are going through. Sarah Einhorn was one of the many volunteers who helped make this years ride possible — and says that if there is any cause to volunteer for, it is this one. Team NECN rider John Vanscoyoc admitted that it is tough to keep one’s composure during the ride when seeing the faces of those that the PMC benefits. NECN’s John Moroney has the story.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/PMC-finish-line-at-Babson-in-Wellesley

(Matt Noyes, NECN) – Those PMC riders who crossed the finish line in Provincetown are now arriving via ferry back in Boston Sunday night. Matt Noyes caught up with Sam and Alana, whose pedal partner is Cailey, a young girl who recently recovered from cancer. Tom Engel, 9-year PMC rider, also talked about his motivation — his wife who survived cancer and other family members who did not.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Provincetown-PMC-finishers-arriving-back-in-Boston

(Matt Noyes, NECN) – Brenda White, 28 year participant in the PMC, of Revere, Mass. Urges people to contribute to the PMC. She says one out of five people are affected by cancer, so donating is a must. NECN’s Matt Noyes talked with her after landing in Boston on the ferry from Provincetown.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Brenda-White-urges-you-to-donate

(Matt Noyes, NECN) – Team Rooney, the patriarch who has made the ride for 22-years, is grooming its ‘tots’ to become riders in the PMC for years to come.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Team-Rooney-grooming-riders-for-future

(Matt Noyes, NECN) – Maureen Poulos is a member of Team Forward, which rides for Maureen’s daughter who was diagnosed with cancer. They get their name from the belief that they are moving forward!

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Team-Forward-moving-forward

(Matt Noyes, NECN) – Steve Bongiorno of Team Matthew’s Ducks made the trip from Long Island, NY to ride in the PMC. Matthew is the team’s pedal partner, who is a 4-year old cancer patient who is doing very well. Matthew is also from Long Island. 11 members of this team rode the Pan Mass Challenge in 2008. Steve and his wife, Denise, are both cancer survivors. They find the opportunity to raise funds for cancer research very fulfilling.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Team-Matthews-Duck-from-Long-Island-NY

Ted Merritt: the best PMC ride in 23 years

(Matt Noyes, NECN) – Ted Merritt said this was the best ride in his 23 years of taking on the PMC. He loves the feeling that he’s done something really important, and says that biking tunes him up for dancing.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Ted-Merritt-the-best-PMC-ride-in-23-years

(Matt Noyes, NECN) – Julie Hurley finished the PMC on day 2, despite her legs offering little energy after a grueling initial day of riding. Julie’s mother passed away years ago. She says that we have made great progress in the fight against cancer, but there is so much more work that needs to be done.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/Julie-Hurley-were-not-there-yet

(NECN) – Riders have crossed the finish line of the 2008 Pan Mass Challenge, and you still have the opportunity to donate 100% of your dollars to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Thousands of courageous riders, some cancer survivors themselves, took on the challenge and biked across Massachusetts in search of their $34 million goal. Help them go over the top and go the extra mile in the fight against cancer. To give you a sense of how the Pan Mass Challenge went, NECN has put together a video montage of some of this weekend’s moments. Enjoy.

www.necn.com/Boston/New-England/There-is-still-time-to-donate-to-the-PMC