BOSTON — The 11th Annual PMC Winter Cycle will take place on Saturday, January 31, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the 521 Overlook inside Fenway Park. The charitable indoor cycling event benefits the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and will feature six 45-minute spin sessions led by certified instructors for registered participants.
In 2025, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) raised a record-breaking $78 million for Dana-Farber, marking the highest total since the organization’s founding in 1980. To date, PMC has contributed $1.125 billion in lifetime fundraising to the institute, making it Dana-Farber’s largest single donor. PMC funding accounts for approximately 67 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.
Each year, 100 percent of rider-raised funds from the PMC Winter Cycle are directed toward cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber. According to PMC Marketing and Sponsorship Associate Katie Iwanowicz, organizers hope to surpass last year’s fundraising total through this year’s event.
When asked about the impact of PMC contributions, Iwanowicz said that PMC funding “enables Dana-Farber researchers and clinicians to investigate those early stage phases of [cancer] research so that they can apply to further federal funding.” She added that the funding “allows them [Dana-Farber researchers/clinicians] to proceed with the first phases of drug development.”
Beyond its financial impact, Iwanowicz noted that PMC events also emphasize community engagement. Through its partnership with the Red Sox Foundation, the PMC Winter Cycle provides space for hundreds of cyclists to participate while supporting Dana-Farber.
“We’re coming together to make an impact for a cause that can affect anyone,” Iwanowicz said. “[The PMC event] offers an opportunity to make an impact and make the world a better place.”
The event also includes the PMC Living Proof Community, which represents riders and volunteers currently undergoing cancer treatment. Members of the community are recognized during each session, with guest speakers sharing personal stories, followed by a group photo honoring Living Proof participants.
When asked about the presence of Living Proof riders, Iwanowicz described the experience as “incredibly powerful.”
“You just feel connected to everyone there, and to see someone who’s life has been impacted by PMC fundraising,” she said.
The 2026 PMC Winter Cycle is organized by 16 full-time staff members and supported by a large volunteer base. Funding raised during 2025 came from several PMC initiatives, including the PMC Weekend ride across Massachusetts last August, the PMC Unpaved event in the Berkshires, and PMC Kids Rides. The youth program allows children ages 2 to 15 to fundraise, participate in local bikeathons, and take part in the PMC Winter Cycle.
Participants registering for the PMC Winter Cycle are required to pay a non-refundable $50 registration fee and meet a $500 fundraising minimum per session. Riders who raise $1,500 or more qualify as Pacesetters. All fundraising minimums must be fulfilled by April 1, 2026.
Additional information, including registration and volunteer opportunities, is available at https://wintercycle.org. The first cycling session begins at 8 a.m., with doors opening at 7:15 a.m. The 521 Overlook at Fenway Park is located at 14 Lansdowne Street in Boston.
