Biking to Beat Cancer
This August, 73 cyclists from Lexington will take part in the 46th annual Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), a two-day bike ride that stretches across Massachusetts. They’ll join over 6,800 riders with one goal: to raise $76 million for cancer research and care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
One of this year’s riders is Mike Kennealy, a Republican running for governor, who has been riding in the event for nearly two decades. He first started riding in 2006 after his wife Trisha decided to ride in honor of a young girl their daughter knew, who had survived pediatric cancer.
Another local participant, Joe Petner, rides with Team POW (Petner Ortiz Watts). He began riding in 1995 when his daughter Caroline was battling a rare blood disorder called aplastic anemia. Petner’s connection to the cause runs even deeper—he is a prostate cancer survivor, and his late wife also fought breast cancer. These personal experiences drive his passion for riding.
Both Petner and Kennealy find deep meaning in riding the PMC, driven by the knowledge that their efforts truly make a difference. “It’s inspiring to know that what you’re doing really matters to someone,” said Petner, who sees the ride as a way to support families facing the same battles his own family experienced. Kennealy echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the event’s greater purpose: “We ride because we truly believe in what PMC stands for and how much good it’s doing for cancer research.”
For parents like Petner, the cause hits especially hard. Having faced his daughter’s diagnosis, he knows how frightening cancer can be. “As a parent, there’s nothing worse than hearing your child has cancer,” he said. Along the route, posters of children affected by cancer remind him why he rides.
Over the years, the PMC has become a family tradition for many. Kennealy said his older children joined the ride in 2017, and the youngest started in 2019.
Since it began in 1980, the PMC has raised over $1 billion for Dana-Farber. Petner credits this success to founder Billy Starr, calling him a hero for starting something that grew so large and meaningful.
But the PMC isn’t just about money—it also represents values like teamwork, determination, and kindness. “It brings together everything that matters: sports, volunteering, compassion, and hope,” said Kennealy.
Petner believes anyone can help, no matter their background. “It’s a powerful event, and you don’t have to be an elite athlete to join. You just need to care and be willing to ride,” he said.