FAQs

The Pan-Mass Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other event in the country. On the first weekend of August every year, riders on routes as short as 25 miles or as long as 187 miles participate and raise money to fight cancer. 100 percent of rider-raised dollars are donated to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research and treatment.

The PMC is always held the first weekend in August. In 2026, that's Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2.

100 percent of every rider-raised dollar go directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for cancer research and treatment. Read more about the PMC's impact here.

You can donate at donate.pmc.org

Since its founding in 1980, the PMC has contributed $1.125 billion to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, which uses those funds for cancer research and treatment. Our 2025 gift was $78 million.

In addition to PMC weekend held each August, we stage three additional programs each year – the PMC Winter Cycle and PMC Kids Rides.

• PMC Unpaved – a brand new PMC event in 2022 – is an off-road bike ride over the scenic backroads of the Berkshires in western Massachusetts to raise funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The 2026 PMC Unpaved is October 3.
• The PMC Winter Cycle is a stationary cycling event held at Fenway Park in Boston. The 2026 PMC Winter Cycle was Saturday, January 31.
• PMC Kids Rides are community-based mini bike-a-thons for children ages 2 to 15. The next PMC Kids Rides will take place spring 2026.

As with PMC weekend held in August, 100 percent of rider-raised funds from all PMC events – the Pan-Mass Challenge, PMC Unpaved, PMC Winter Cycle, and PMC Kids Rides – go directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Here are a number of ways you can participate in PMC 2026. Registration will open in 2026:

• Register to ride PMC weekend – August 1 and 2, 2026. Routes range from 25 to 177 miles.
  Registration will open in January.
• Register as a virtual rider – Virtual riders do not ride the routes on PMC weekend but still fundraise to support Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. 
• Volunteer on PMC weekend. Volunteers are needed before, during, and after PMC weekend. Volunteer registration will open in February.

Visit the "Who We Are" page in the "About Us" section of the PMC website. Here you can find a list of the PMC staff, along with their contact information.

PMC 2026 rider registration opens in January. Heavy Hitters can register January 8, alumni can register January 12, and new riders can register January 15.

Register at secure.pmc.org/ride.

Each rider must commit to the fundraising for a route. Find all routes and minimums here.

All PMC routes are open to riders age 15 and older. Our Sunday Wellesley 25/50 routes are open to riders as young as 13; anyone under 17 will have a reduced fundraising commitment on those routes. 

Riders younger than 13 can participate in a PMC Kids Ride, which are open to riders ages 2 to 15. Learn more at kids.pmc.org

Yes, registration fees vary by route and they help cover some of the operating costs of the PMC. In order to pass on 100 percent of rider-raised revenue to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, registration fees are essential and non-refundable.

The PMC offers a range of routes and fundraising commitments. Routes range from 25 to 177 miles and there are a variety fundraising commitments; view the routes and minimums by map. Choose a route that fits your schedule, cycling ability, and fundraising capacity.

If the route you would like to ride is still available, yes, you may change your route. Email panmass@pmc.org to request a route change. We limit the number of riders on each route and popular routes fill quickly, so your requested route may not be available.

If you switch to a route with a lower fundraising commitment than the one you originally registered for, you will still be held to your original fundraising commitment.

If you switch to a longer route with a higher fundraising commitment than the one you originally registered for, your fundraising commitment will increase to that of your new route.

Any human-powered pedaled bike (e.g., recumbent, tandem, tricycle) is permitted. Also, you may ride a Class 1 pedal-assist e-bike on the PMC routes. Class 2 (throttle-type) and Class 3 e-bikes are not permitted in the PMC.

The PMC is able to help riders find lodging (at their expense) in the Worcester area for Friday night, July 31. Riders will be emailed a link to room blocks after they register for PMC 2026 and will be able to book their own rooms; the PMC will not be booking hotel rooms for riders in Worcester, as was done in Sturbridge. Riders will receive a link to room blocks beginning in January.

Lodging will be available for two-day riders on Saturday, August 1, at Mass Maritime Academy in Bourne.

On Friday, July 31, the PMC will offer registered riders bus transportation to Worcester from Boston and Wellesley.

On Saturday, August 1, the PMC will offer registered riders bus transportation from Bourne to Worcester and Wellesley.

On Sunday, August 2, the PMC will offer ferry transportation for registered riders, bikes, and bags from Provincetown to Boston. Riders may also purchase bus tickets from Provincetown to Worcester or Wellesley.

All transportation options are an additional charge and not included in the registration fee.

Yes, the PMC will have bag drop locations at the start of each point-to-point route (e.g., Sturbridge to Bourne) and your bag will be waiting for you at the finish. We recommend that riders limit the size and shape of the bag to something easily carried after their ride, like a backpack.

For riders who prefer to join a point-to-point route somewhere besides the start, we will have additional bag drop locations available (e.g., Worcester-area hotels and on the Cape Cod side of the Canal).

You can demonstrate your commitment to fighting cancer even if you are unable to participate in PMC weekend. Register as a Reimagined Rider – you'll still receive the official PMC jersey and other rider swag by mail in July – and you can ride whenever and wherever is most convenient for you, so long as it's not one of our organized routes on PMC weekend.

We ask that Reimagined Riders not do their Reimagined ride on the PMC routes over PMC weekend (August 1 and 2, 2026) because it will make supporting registered riders more difficult and roads less safe for all.

Massachusetts public roads are not closed on PMC weekend. However, the PMC provides mechanical and medical road support all along the PMC route as well as at water stops and finish lines. We expect that Reimagined Riders will prioritize everyone’s safety and either ride on a different route on PMC weekend or follow a PMC route on a different day.

PMC weekend riders will pick up their rider kit (official jersey, water bottle and socks) and credentials (wristband, bike tag, name tags, and luggage tags) at rider check-in at their start location. All PMC weekend riders must show a photo ID in order to receive their kit and ride.

PMC Reimagined Riders will be mailed their kits in July.

Every route’s start and water stops will provide snacks and beverages, lavatories, first aid, and mechanical support.

You may cancel your ride, however, upon registration all riders are committed to meet the fundraising minimum of their route whether or not they participate. The fundraising minimum deadline is October 1.

Donations in support of a PMC rider may be made by credit card, bank, DAFpay, check, Facebook, or Venmo.

To search for the rider you'd like to support online, click here. 

To support a rider via check, make the check payable to the Pan-Mass Challenge, PMC, Jimmy Fund and/or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Riders who receive checks directly from donors should deposit them electronically using the PMC app on their iOS or Android smartphone.

If a donor makes out a check to a rider, the rider should endorse and sign it over to the Pan-Mass Challenge. Please be sure to include the rider’s name and/or eGift ID on the memo line of the check. Checks should be mailed to the PMC office: 77 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02494.

Click here to learn about additional ways to give to the PMC, including through a donor advised fund, stock, IRA, etc.

The PMC's federal tax ID number is 04-2746912

Log into your PMC account and within your PMC Dashboard, click "Fundraising," then "Donations." Here you can select the year and view the donations you received.

All donations made online will be acknowledged with an emailed tax receipt. Donations made by check for $250 or more will automatically generate a tax acknowledgment by mail. Tax receipts for donations of less than $250 may be provided upon request.

To request a receipt for a previous donation, please email panmass@pmc.org

Mobile deposit via PMC app – available for iOS and Android – is the fastest way to deposit your checks.

Simple fundraising checks – those to be applied only to your fundraising – should be deposited through mobile deposit.

Checks requiring special attention (those with matching gifts forms, "in honor" or "in memory" donations requesting a tribute letter, or checks to be split among several riders, etc.) should be mailed to the PMC office for our staff to process. The office address is 77 4th Avenue, Needham, MA 02494.

The PMC offers a range of routes and fundraising commitments. Routes range from 25 to 177 miles and there are a variety fundraising commitments; view the routes and minimums by map. Choose a route that fits your schedule, cycling ability and fundraising capacity.

Riders who register earlier in the year are generally the most successful at fundraising and training, so start fundraising early! Find fundraising tools and tips here.

Heavy Hitters are PMC riders and fundraisers who exceed their fundraising commitments and receive recognition from the PMC for their fundraising efforts. The 2026 Heavy Hitter level is $12,000. Learn more about PMC Heavy Hitters here.

Yes, the PMC app is available for smartphones running iOS and Android; it supports PMC fundraising management, email solicitations, mobile deposits and more. We encourage all riders to download it!

A new PMC app was released in 2023. Please remove the old app from your phone and/or tablet and make sure you download the new version.

Facebook Fundraisers are integrated with and can be set up through your PMC Dashboard. Funds raised in either place (Facebook or via PMC pages) stay in sync. Facebook has no fees, not even for credit cards.

Find a step-by-step guide to set up your Facebook Fundraiser here.

If you receive cash from a donor, you can either write a personal check to the PMC or use your credit card to put the correct donation amount into your account, but use the information for the donor rather than for yourself.

Just log into your PMC Dashboard and click Fundraising in the lefthand menu. From there, click Email Templates to select and edit an available template.

PMC 2026 volunteer registration will open in February.

We highly encourage all interested volunteers to register as soon as they are eligible!

The PMC needs volunteers before and after PMC weekend, as well as on the weekend itself. All available volunteer positions can be found here while the current year’s registration period is open.

You must at least 13 years old to volunteer for the PMC.

Yes, each volunteer will receive a PMC volunteer t-shirt and a name tag on PMC weekend.

No. Only volunteers who register online to volunteer PMC weekend.

Each volunteer will need to register through their own account so we have their information on file, including their signatures on the PMC waiver and volunteer agreement. For anyone under 18, a parent or legal guardian will need to sign the waiver and agreement on their behalf. Each volunteer must select a volunteer shift and complete registration through their own account. If your family wants to volunteer together, make sure there are enough shifts available at that site before signing up.

No. Please only register for a position if you are able to stay for the full duration of your shift. Volunteers who arrive late or leave early increase the burden on their fellow volunteers and negatively impact the experience for riders. If, after registering, you have a conflict that will make it impossible for you to stay for the duration of your shift, please email volunteer@pmc.org and we can cancel your shift for you.