#pmc2026email

[pmcmarty]

Hot Week, in Temperature, Riding, and Fundraising!

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

My Progress Towards that Goal: 63%

[pmcmarty]

A Mid-Summer PMC Update

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,

Martin Middelmann 18-Year Pan-Mass Challenge Rider

[pmcmarty]

Today is My Birthday!

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

18-Year Pan-Mass Challenge Rider

[pmcmarty]

P2P, Plymouth to Provincetown - A "Gut Check"

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

18-Year Pan-Mass Challenge Rider

[pmcmarty]

A Reunion, a Reflection, and a Reason to Ride...

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,

Martin Middelmann

[pmcmarty]

A Memorial Day Reminder of Why I Ride

This past Memorial Day weekend, we invited some neighbors over for a cookout. I spent the afternoon grilling BBQ ribs while my wife made a raspberry rhubarb biscuit cobbler using rhubarb from our garden. It was one of those simple evenings that remind you how important community and friendship really are.

Our Rhubarb!

What made the gathering especially meaningful was having one neighbor there who recently battled cancer and is still recovering from the fight. During the evening, he shared stories about a support group he joined with others who are currently fighting cancer or who have survived it themselves. Listening to him talk about the encouragement, understanding, and connection that group provides was incredibly moving.

It was also a powerful reminder of why I continue to ride the Pan-Mass Challenge and raise money for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where my neighbor received his treatment.

Cancer research is not abstract. It impacts people we know, families we care about, and neighbors sitting beside us at backyard cookouts. The work being done at Dana-Farber gives people hope, more time, and better outcomes.

https://pmc.org/mm0373

This August, I’ll be riding in my 18th Pan-Mass Challenge. Thanks to generous support, I’m already making progress toward my $14,000 fundraising goal for 2026, but there is still a long road ahead.

If you would like to support my ride and help fund lifesaving research and patient care at Dana-Farber, you can donate here:

Thank you for continuing to support this mission and for helping make moments like these possible for more families.

Sincerely,

Martin Middelmann

[pmcmarty]

A Memorial Day Weekend Reminder: Now More Than Ever

As we head into Memorial Day weekend, I wanted to reach out to those who have supported my Pan-Mass Challenge rides in past years but may not yet have had a chance to donate for 2026.

I’ve officially begun fundraising for my 18th Pan-Mass Challenge, and thanks to early support, I’m already at 25% of my $14,000 goal. There’s still a long road ahead, but the early momentum has been encouraging.

This year, the PMC announced a record-breaking fundraising goal of $79 million for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. It’s an ambitious number, but the need has never been greater.

With cuts to federal cancer research funding continuing to impact institutions across the country, organizations like Dana-Farber rely more heavily on philanthropy to continue lifesaving work. Research that changes lives depends on sustained investment.

Recently, Dana-Farber researcher Dr. Stuart Orkin received the prestigious Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences for work that helped pave the way for transformative treatments for blood disorders. It’s a powerful reminder that today’s research funding becomes tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

Stuart Orkin, MD, and fellow award winner Investigator SweeLay Thein, Investigator at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

That is why this year’s PMC theme resonates so strongly:

“Now More Than Ever.”

If you’ve been considering supporting my ride this year, Memorial Day weekend feels like a fitting time to recommit to causes that matter deeply. Every donation goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to fund cancer research and patient care.

You can support my ride here:

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for your past generosity, encouragement, and continued support of this mission.

Sincerely,

Martin Middelmann 18-Year PMC Rider

My 2026 Fundraising Goal: $14,000

Raised for 2026: $3,655

Number of Donors: 27

Corporate Matches/Pledges: $200

My Progress Towards that Goal: 26%

[pmcmarty]

Meet Finn, Our 2026 PMC Pedal Partner

This past Saturday, several of my PHAT Tuesday teammates and I attended the PMC Pedal Partner event at Fenway Park, where we had the opportunity to meet our team’s 2026 Pedal Partner, Finn, and his family.

Finn is 9 years old and lives in Plymouth with his parents, Caity and Dan, and his younger brother Harry. In December of 2024, just 10 days before Christmas, Finn was diagnosed with T-Cell Leukemia. He is now about five months into a two-year treatment plan.

Despite everything he’s facing, Finn is still very much a kid. He loves Legos, Star Wars, arts and crafts, and proudly rocked a mullet before treatment began. In fact, one of his biggest worries after diagnosis was learning that treatment would cause him to lose his hair. Meeting him in person this weekend was a powerful reminder of exactly why we ride.

Doctors have told Finn’s family that he has a good prognosis, and that gives all of us hope. But hope alone is not enough. The treatments, research, and care that families like Finn’s rely on are only possible because people choose to support organizations like the Pan-Mass Challenge and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

This August, I’ll be riding my 18th Pan-Mass Challenge to help fund that lifesaving work. Every mile I ride will be for Finn, for families like his, and for everyone fighting cancer.

If you’d like to support my ride, you can donate here:

https://pmc.org/mm0373

Thank you for continuing to be part of this journey and for helping bring hope to families who need it most.

Sincerely,

Martin Middelmann