Doing his part for the cancer fight keeps founder Steven Bowen competing in the rigorous Pan-Mass Challenge
(August 11, 2014.) Maine Pointe Founder and Chairman, Steven Bowen, recently completed his 9th Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) to honor family, friends, and colleagues who have been impacted by cancer.
Noted in the biking world as a highly-successful event of significant charitable impact, the Pan-Mass Challenge is a two-day, 192-mile bike ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, Mass. This year over 5,500 riders participated in not so ideal weather conditions to raise nearly $40 million for the Jimmy Fund at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Over the past 35 years, the PMC has contributed $454 million to the Jimmy Fund.
Bowen's dedication to the cancer fight is borne out of the personal experience of many close to him and is chiefly why he remains committed to the rigorous training that's not only required to compete in the race - but also to finish the course - year after year.
His many years of participation in the ride, and his consistent fundraising efforts, were highlighted in a feature article in yesterday's Sunday Boston Globe.
As Globe reporter Andrew MacDougall described: "What began as a way to honor the legacy of his mother has become something much bigger for Bowen. In nine years, the runner-turned-cyclist has established himself as one of the event's biggest fund-raisers, individually raising over $135,000. Nashua Rides for Hope, a 31-member team that Bowen is a part of, has collectively raised $1.1 million over the last decade... Bowen said he already had big ideas as he looked ahead to 2015. He wants to start a Maine Pointe team that will ride in a handful of events each year, including the PMC, as well as rides to benefit diabetes and multiple sclerosis research."
Read: Boston Globe article (August 10)...
Read: "Connected by cancer: Biker completes PMC in memory of dear friend" (Duxbury Clipper; August 6)...
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