Eleven Wilmington Residents Set for PMC Ride

Eleven Wilmington residents are going on a summer road trip. But the vehicle they’re taking has two wheels, not four.

As is normally the case, Wilmington will be strongly represented in the Pan Massachusetts Challenge when it rolls through the Boston area on August 4 and 5.

During last year’s ride, Wilmington’s 11 riders raised more than $75,000 as a part of the overall total of $35 million raised by participants.

This year, 5,500 cyclists will ride in the multi-day cycling event with hopes of reaching a fundraising goal of $36 million. All of the money raised supports adult and pediatric cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $338 million.

“The PMC is the gold standard of athletic fundraising events,” said Bill Starr, PMC founder and executive director. “PMCers are as committed to raising money for cancer research as they are to pedaling the miles. PMC cyclists are all heart and soul.”

Bill Campbell, Ted Haggerty, Frank Haubner, Sherry Iuliano, David Laing Jr., Chris Leonard, Rebecca Leonard, James McLaughlin, Simon Nichols, Mickey Rooney and James White are the Wilmington residents in the race.

Chris Leonard rode last year as well, and was also among a group of riders who was invited to versus the Milwaukee Brewers.

Leonard was diagnosed with cancer 10 years ago, and he said last year that he fought it and became cancer free within about a year. He said riding in the PMC has become an annual tradition for him.

“Once you get brought in, it’s something you can’t walk away from,” said Leonard during last year’s Fenway event. “It’s always nice to see the (PMC) shirts when you’re out on your practice rides.”