For the fifth year in a row, I am participating in the Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) as part of Team 3G (Gravel Division). The PMC is a fully-supported bike-a-thon to benefit the Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI).
On October 4, 2025, I will ride a total of 50 miles in the back woods of western MA and upstate New York. Being a fair-weather cyclist, I've spent the Winter months (and wetter Spring and Fall days) trying to maintain my fitness on my Peloton. But now that Summer is here, I'm getting outside more and more as family and work commitments allow!
I am motivated to take on this challenge for my late mother-in-law Carole and my friend, neighbor, biking buddy, and all-around good person Amy Fradkin. Her non-smoking husband Gregg (representing all three Gs behind Team 3G) was diagnosed with late-stage lung cancer 5 ½ years ago and given a 7% chance of surviving 5 years. Thankfully, he is still with us. Amy started PMC Team 3G after learning some alarming statistics about how little money was going towards lung cancer research.
As team captain, Amy determines how to donate the funds raised by Team 3G members. In year one, 100% of the funds raised were delivered to thoracic oncology for lung cancer research. In other years, in addition to lung cancer research, we have supported cancers impacting our team members, including lymphoma. This meant a great deal to me and my family as my mother-in-law has been treated for many years for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. She recently lost her battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), likely caused by all of her cancer treatments. Team 3G has also supported research for ovarian cancer, uveal melanoma, gastrointestinal cancer, and brain cancer, specifically glioblastomas.
In 2024, Team 3G raised over $623,000! And the team has raised almost $400,000 in 2025 so far! This is incredible for a team that has only existed for 5 years!
Please consider supporting my effort this Summer and Fall. The power of the pedal stroke is enormous, and we are witnessing donations put to immediate use. We have seen and met the doctors behind new science and new hope. Without your generosity, none of this exists.
You can find me on the local roads most weekends, in the local woods on random weekdays, or on the Peloton with the user name ThisIsMrZ.
I appreciate all of your support.
With gratitude and gravel,
--Mike Z
