Last year, Robert Graves spotted someone wearing a Pan-Mass Challenge T-Shirt and struck up a conversation.

Graves quickly learned the man was a fellow rider in the annual charity bike ride and listened to the stranger share a story about his wife’s cancer battle and how much the Pan-Mass Challenge and its support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute means to him and his family. 

“You don’t really think about how many people are affected by cancer, but when you do this ride, it’s an eye-opening reminder of the good you’re doing.” Graves said. “It’s a real emotional weekend.”

This year, at least 13 Franklin County residents will be among the thousands of bikers from around New England that kick off routes to Provincetown, all while raising thousands of dollars for cancer research.

The Pan-Mass Challenge was founded in 1980 by Executive Director Billy Starr and has since raised $900 million for cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. The ride is the largest athletic fundraising in the country and donates 100% of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause, generating more than 60% of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue as Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor, according to a press release from the Pan-Mass Challenge.

Each rider is embarking on one of 16 routes from 25 to 211 miles challenge, over the course of two days (Aug. 5-6), with a desire to honor friends and family who have been afflicted with cancer. To participate, each cyclist must raise several thousand dollars.

For Greenfield resident Jim Moses, the Pan-Mass Challenge is an opportunity to honor his wife, Dawn, who died of cancer in 2012 after a four-year battle. He said he’s participated in the ride in some form – organizers introduced alternative forms of the race in the face of the pandemic – since 2013 and he’ll be riding in the Wellesley to Provincetown route this year.

“It’s both celebratory and poignant … I’m really looking to get back into it,” Moses said, adding he started his team, The Turkey Hill Gang, with a group of his wife’s friends, and it’s the first time in a few years he’s participating in one of the major routes. “Our attitude about the team is it’s quite open and everyone rides at their own level.”

Graves, an athletic trainer at Deerfield Academy, said he and other members of Team Deerfield ride in the name of family and friends who have battled cancer, as well as former Deerfield Academy student Aiden Day, who died after battling acute myeloid leukemia.

This weekend will mark his fifth year of participating in the ride.

“I love riding my bike and it’s kind of a cool way to help people out and celebrate survivors, as well as raise funds for Dana-Farber,” Graves said.

Moses, 56, said he doesn’t do any additional training for the ride because he is a year-round cyclist – a fitness regimen he picked up after his wife died – with his typical routes ranging from 25 to 100 miles.

Graves, 57, is an avid cyclist and is taking on the full route from Sturbridge to Provincetown. While he is fully trained for the two-day ride, he said the energy from the volunteers and crowds cheering you along could boost any level of cyclist along.

“Every mile is just lined with people cheering you on and thanking you,” Graves said. “Once you start, there’s just no way you’re going to quit.”

As he gears up for his 10th ride, Moses said the number of participants and money raised is “stunning” – he’s raised more than $100,000 since starting in 2013 – but there’s always the hope that the ride will become a thing of the past if cancer could be eliminated.

“It’s inspiring, but my hope is that one day there won’t be a Pan-Mass Challenge,” Moses said. “It feels great to be part of it, but I just wish it weren’t necessary.”

Graves’ donation portal can be reached here: profile.pmc.org/RG0260. Moses’ can be found here: profile.pmc.org/JM0705.

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.

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