#pmc2026

Today begins the 10-day countdown to my 18th Pan-Mass Challenge.

After months of training, I'm ready. This past Saturday, I completed what will likely be my final long training ride before PMC weekend, covering nearly 70 miles with my PHAT Tuesday teammates. It was a great ride and a reassuring sign that the preparation has paid off.

Along the way, I also discovered something I'd never noticed before. Our team captain has a unique way of dismounting his bike. Instead of swinging his leg over the back, he lifts it over the handlebars before stepping down! After riding with him for years, I couldn't resist capturing it on video.​

On the fundraising side, I'm excited to share that I've reached almost 70% of my $14,000 goal. I'm incredibly grateful for everyone who has already stepped up to support the ride.

With only 10 days until I roll out for 185 miles across Massachusetts, I'd be honored to have you join me. Your donation goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where it helps fund groundbreaking cancer research and compassionate patient care. Especially with federal research funding under increasing pressure, every contribution matters.

If you've supported my ride in the past, thank you. I hope you'll consider joining me again in 2026.

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for considering a gift and for helping move us one mile, and one breakthrough, closer to a world without cancer.

Sincerely,

One special aspect of the Pan-Mass Challenge is the opportunity to meet the families whose lives have been touched by cancer.

This past Saturday, my PHAT Tuesday teammates gathered in Plymouth for a training ride. We were joined by Dan, the father of our 2026 Pedal Partner, Finn. Dan is also the newest member of our team and will ride the Sunday leg of the PMC from Bourne to Provincetown.

After the ride, we spent time with Dan, his wife Caity, Finn, and his younger brother Harry. It was wonderful getting to know them better, and I left feeling incredibly fortunate that our team has been paired with such a remarkable family.

You may remember Finn's story. He was diagnosed with T-cell leukemia just 10 days before Christmas in 2024 and is now making his way through a two-year treatment plan. Despite everything he's facing, he's still a 9-year-old who loves Legos, Star Wars, arts and crafts, and simply being a kid.

In just a few weeks, when I begin my 18th Pan-Mass Challenge, I'll be riding for Finn, for Dan as he rides alongside us, and for every family facing a cancer diagnosis.

Thanks to your incredible generosity, I'm now about two-thirds of the way toward my $14,000 fundraising goal. If you've been considering supporting my ride, I'd be grateful for your help as we close the remaining gap.

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for helping families like Finn's and for making hope possible through the groundbreaking work at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Sincerely,

Martin Middelmann

18-Year Pan-Mass Challenge Rider

My 2026 Fundraising Goal: $14,000

Raised for 2026: $9,250

Number of Donors: 60

Corporate Matches: $600 ($300 Pending)

I wanted to share a quick update as the 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge draws closer.

Last week was an incredible week for fundraising. Thanks to the generosity of so many friends and family, just over $3,000 in donations came in, bringing me another big step closer to my $14,000 goal. I am deeply grateful for every contribution.

Training has also intensified. On Friday morning, a few of my PHAT Tuesday teammates and I set out at 6:30 a.m. for a challenging 52-mile ride, hoping to beat the heat. We managed to stay ahead of it for a while, but by the time we finished around noon, the summer sun had definitely won. It was a tough ride, but every mile brings us one step closer to PMC weekend.

As we celebrated our nation's 250th birthday this past weekend, I found myself reflecting on one of the things that truly makes America great: our commitment to scientific discovery and medical innovation. Time and again, American researchers have transformed cancer from a diagnosis with little hope into one where more patients are surviving and living longer.

Unfortunately, that progress is now being threatened by significant cuts to federal research funding. Institutions like the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are feeling the impact, making private philanthropy more important than ever.

That is why I ride.

Every donation to the Pan-Mass Challenge goes directly to Dana-Farber to fund groundbreaking cancer research and compassionate patient care. Your support helps ensure that lifesaving discoveries continue, even when other funding sources fall short.

If you haven't yet had the opportunity to support my ride this year, I hope you'll consider making a donation today.

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for helping move cancer research forward. Now more than ever, your generosity is making a difference.

Sincerely,

Martin Middelmann 18-Year Pan-Mass Challenge Rider

My 2026 Fundraising Goal: $14,000

Raised for 2025: $8,850

Number of Donors: 57

Corporate Matches: $600 ($300 Pending)

Donor Advised Funds (DAFs): $2,050 Pending

As we head into the July 4th weekend, I wanted to share a quick update on my 2026 Pan-Mass Challenge ride.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of so many friends and family, my fundraising total has climbed to $7,300 as of June 30th, nearly doubling over the past few weeks! I'm now just over halfway toward my $14,000 goal.

June was a memorable month. On June 13th, I attended my 40th high school reunion, where I had the chance to reconnect with classmates, including several who have generously supported my PMC ride over the years. Earlier that same day, I squeezed in a memorable 49-mile ride that crossed both the George Washington Bridge and the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. (I still can't bring myself to call it anything but the Tappan Zee Bridge!)

Training has continued to build from there. About a week ago, I completed the 85-mile Plymouth to Provincetown (P2P) ride with my PHAT Tuesday teammates. It's our annual "gut check" before the Pan-Mass Challenge, and I'm happy to report that both the team and I are right where we want to be with just a month to go.

The countdown is on. In less than 30 days, thousands of cyclists will gather to ride for one purpose: funding lifesaving cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

If you've been considering supporting my ride this year, I'd be honored to have you join me as I work toward my $14,000 goal.

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for your friendship, encouragement, and generosity. I hope you and your family have a safe and enjoyable Independence Day weekend.

Sincerely,

Today is my birthday.

As I've gotten older, birthdays have taken on a different meaning. They're no longer just a celebration of another year. They're a reminder that growing older is a privilege that not everyone gets to experience.

That's one of the reasons I continue to ride the Pan-Mass Challenge.

In just 30 days, I'll line up with thousands of other cyclists for my 18th PMC ride, raising money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Thanks to the generosity of so many friends and family, I've raised just shy of $6,000 toward my $14,000 fundraising goal.

Every day, Dana-Farber's doctors, nurses, and researchers work to give patients something we often take for granted: more birthdays. More family dinners. More graduations. More vacations. More ordinary days that become extraordinary simply because they're shared with the people we love.

If you're considering a gift to my PMC ride, today would be a wonderful day to help create more of those moments for families facing cancer.

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Whether or not you're able to donate, thank you for your friendship and encouragement over the years. Your support has helped me raise more than $143,000 for Dana-Farber over my first 17 rides, and I'm excited to continue that journey this August.

Thank you for helping make more birthdays possible.

Sincerely,

Martin Middelmann

Yesterday, I took the day off from work to join a few hundred cyclists for the annual Plymouth-to-Provincetown ride, better known as P2P.

The ride starts in Plymouth and finishes 85 miles later in Provincetown, making it one of the most important training rides of the summer for many Pan-Mass Challenge riders.

I rode with my PMC team, PHAT Tuesday. We rolled out just after 5:30 in the morning and maintained a comfortable pace that allowed us to stay together as a team for the entire ride. We often think of P2P as a "gut check" for the Pan-Mass Challenge. It's an opportunity to see where our fitness stands and whether we're on track for PMC weekend.

Based on yesterday's ride, I'd say we're right where we need to be.

The weather was perfect. The miles rolled by. And throughout the day I encountered many familiar faces, fellow PMC riders I hadn't seen since last August. It felt a bit like a family reunion on bicycles.

As enjoyable as the ride was, it also served as a reminder that PMC weekend is approaching quickly. In just a few short weeks, thousands of riders will come together with one goal: raising money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the fight against cancer.

Training prepares us for the miles. Your donations prepare Dana-Farber researchers and clinicians for the work that saves lives.

As I continue preparing for my 18th Pan-Mass Challenge, I am grateful for everyone who has already supported my ride. If you have not yet had an opportunity to donate, I hope you'll consider helping me reach my $14,000 fundraising goal.

 - https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for your support, encouragement, and belief in this mission.

Sincerely,

Martin Middelmann

This upcoming weekend, I will attend my 40th high school reunion.

Like many reunions, it will be a chance to reconnect with old friends, share stories, and reflect on the paths our lives have taken over the past four decades.

As I think about the reunion, I am also reminded of two classmates whose lives were cut short by cancer.

During our senior year, one of our classmates, Xavier Yepez, was battling cancer. While the rest of us were focused on graduation, college, and the future, he was fighting for his life. Within a year of graduation, he lost that battle. Years ago, in 2009, I wrote about his impact on me and my decision to ride the Pan-Mass Challenge.

Our last reunion was held in 2016 and was organized by our classmate, Dawn (Dolling) Puente. Dawn worked tirelessly to bring our class back together. Within a year of that reunuion, she passed away from a brain tumor.

These are just two examples of how cancer has touched our small graduating class of only 81 students.

The reality is that nearly all of us have a story like this. A classmate. A friend. A family member. A neighbor. Someone whose life was forever changed by cancer.

That is why I continue to ride.

This August, I will participate in my 18th Pan-Mass Challenge, raising money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The research funded by the PMC has helped transform countless cancer diagnoses from hopeless to treatable. There is still much work to be done, but every breakthrough begins with support from people like you.

As I gather with old friends this weekend, I will be grateful for those who can attend, mindful of those who cannot, and reminded once again why this cause matters so much.

If you would like to support my ride, you can make a donation here:

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for helping fund the research that gives more people the opportunity to celebrate milestones, make memories, and enjoy reunions of their own.

Sincerely,

I had the opportunity to ride the new First segment of the PMC route with a small “test group”. 

It was a crisp sunny morning, so we had the weather in our favor.

Here is the video I put together of that test ride:

Here are my initial thoughts...

The First 3 Miles

The start isn't as scary as I had thought it would be. That being said, it will be crucial that riders exercise patience and control their speed on that initial descent. It is very important for riders to be smart about that first hairpin turn immediately after the starting line.

The transition to the road at the bottom should be fine as it is a shallow turn. 

The Start:

Riding through the next section of Worcester, it quickly transitions from city to suburban feel. 

At about mile 3, there is a large, sweeping rotary that immediately exits onto a steep, 1.2 mile climb up to the “Old Common” on a two lane road with no shoulder. The first section of the climb (.3 miles) starts off with a very steep grade.  This is comparable to the climb into Charlton, only much much earlier in the ride. It will get very crowded and bunched up. 

Mile 3 Rotary:

Mile 3 Climb (Strava Segment: "Greenwood Climb")

After that climb, the ride becomes a very rural ride with rolling hills. Once you start the long descent towards Route 146, you will pass by a number of old mill buildings.

The Double Rotaries at 146

The first rotary is simple as one can essentially ride a straight line through to the other side 

First Millbury Rotary:

Second Millbury Rotary:

The second rotary is an area of concern. It is small and very tight. The line through that rotary is sharp and narrow and probably could only handle 2 bikes abreast at the most.  There is also an exit immediately before the route that goes straight. I anticipate a number of riders taking that exit as a possible bail out or simply by mistake. 

Downtown Millbury 

This will be the first time the PMC has ridden through a downtown of this nature in my experience. If you hit the town center on the top of the hour, expect a loud foghorn to blow from the Fire Department.

Millbury to West Upton 

This is the best section of the new segment. The flat, rolling road is a joy to ride on. That is, until one makes that left turn on to Milford Road for the second big climb of the day. 

Milford Road Climb, Strava Segment "Suck it up until Buttercup"

The descent on the other side is straight and fast, and there are railroad tracks towards the bottom. 

West Upton to Miscoe Hill Middle School (Strava Segment)

Another long, gradual climb into the first PMC water stop of the day at Miscoe Hill Middle School. This feels like a never ending slog and one is happy to see that “School Zone” sign right before the rest stop.

Riding into Miscoe Hill Middle School

I hope this preview is helpful.