“PMC Article for Local Bank's Newsletter”

The following is a lightly-edited version of an article that will be appearing soon in the employee newsletter of the Chelsea-Groton Savings Bank (where Corinne works). The PMC is now just two weeks away, and I'm hoping that this will bring me to my fund-raising goal.

Riding for a Cure in the Pan-Mass Challenge

What is the Pan-Mass Challenge?

The mission of the PMC is to raise funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute's Jimmy Fund. At the heart of this fundraising effort is a bicycle ride, which for me will cover 200 miles in two days: Sturbridge to Provincetown, MA on August 2nd and 3rd.

Since its inception in 1980, PMC riders and volunteers have worked to support Dana-Farber's doctors and researchers in their pursuit of finding a cure for all cancers.

Facts & Figures

The PMC is the largest single fundraising event for the Jimmy Fund, which is also sponsored year-round by the Red Sox. This year's ride is expected to raise fifty percent of all funds contributed annually to the Jimmy Fund.

• Since 1980, the PMC has donated over $86 million to the Jimmy Fund
• For the last ten years, more than 90% of the rider-raised funds have gone directly to the Jimmy Fund (many charitable fundraisers have a much higher overhead).
• This year, 4,000 cyclists are participating, and hope to raise a record $16 million.

My Participation

My name is Seth Dillingham, and this is my first year participating in the PMC. I'm an experienced cyclist, but have never been involved in an event of this size. Four thousand riders! Combine the size of this event with what is obviously a very good cause, and I hope you understand why I'm very excited.

Riding in the PMC requires an unbreakable commitment to raise at least $2,500 by August 1. So far, I'm about halfway there, but I'm hoping to raise $3,000.

There's a lot more information about me, and my participation in the PMC (and other cancer-related fund-raising events) on my personal web site.

How You Can Help

If you'd like to help me reach my goal, there are a number of ways you do it:

• Visit the PMC page on my web site, which shows my fund-raising progress and links to a secure page for making donations over the web
• Mail a check, to:

  Seth Dillingham
  76 Dogwood Lane
  Mystic, CT 06355

  (Please make the check out to "PMC/Jimmy Fund")