Pedaling against cancer, cyclists raise $26 million

A charity for cancer patients received its biggest donation ever last night , from a bike-a-thon.

The Jimmy Fund, which supports Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, received $26 million from the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge during a ceremony at Harvard Medical School. In August, 4,300 cyclists rode up to 192 miles across the state and raised what organizers contend is the largest sum by an athletic fund-raising event.

"It really allows us to make a major investment in research," said Edward J. Benz Jr. , president of Dana-Farber.

"The PMC monies allow us to cover research expenses that are not well covered by federal grants," Benz said, citing major pieces of equipment, start-up costs for recruiting scientists, and clinical and applied research, as examples.

Billy Starr , the Challenge's founder and executive director, came up with the event in the 1970s after losing his mother, uncle, and cousin to cancer and becoming enamored with bicycling.

"When I was a kid . . . cancer was a big boogeyman," said Starr, 55. "We were never encouraged to be curious and be involved."

During the first challenge, in 1980, Starr raised $10,200 by riding with 36 of his friends.

Of every $1 raised by riders, 99 cents goes to the Jimmy Fund, organizers said. Cyclists were required to raise a minimum of $1,300, depending on their chosen bike route.

This year's fund-raising pushes to $171 million the total brought in by the event.

"Without the PMC, we would really struggle to meet our mission," Benz said. "It allows us to operate at a level of excellence and size that would be very difficult to achieve if it weren't there."

Dana-Farber relies heavily on unrestricted fund-raising. The Challenge's contributions account for more than half of the unrestricted funds Dana-Farber has received from all sources, Benz said.

Jackie Herskovitz, speaking for the PMC , said the contribution is the largest raised by an athletic fund-raising event. But Paul G. Schervish , director of the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College, said it is difficult to keep records on charities because no national clearinghouse monitors the various fund-raising efforts.

April Simpson can be reached at asimpson@globe.com.