The Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), an annual bike-a-thon event presented by the Red Sox Foundation and M&T Bank, has announced a $72 million gift to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in support of adult and pediatric cancer research, clinical trials, and treatment.

The donation is the largest gift ever for cancer research, treatment, and care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and brings the PMC’s total contributions to $972 million since 1980. PMC, which provides 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar from its fundraiser, remains Dana-Farber’s largest single contributor, accounting for 62 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue. In August, 6,500 riders and 3,100 volunteers participated in the 44th PMC, cycling up to 211 miles across Massachusetts to raise funding.

“Year after year, the PMC community’s extraordinary support touches every aspect of our organization from our cancer research to the care we deliver to our patients,” said Dana-Farber president and CEO Laurie H. Glimcher. “As a proud eight-year PMC rider myself, I get to experience the joy of PMC weekend every August and then witness the impact of this extraordinary gift, which is immeasurable to cancer patients both at Dana-Farber and around the world.”

(Photo credit: John Deputy)