Rochester to Host Cranberry Country PMC Bike Ride for Kids

By now, you’ve heard of the Pan-Mass Challenge Bike Race that raises millions of dollars each year for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute to help fund research and treatment for cancer patients.

You may not know as much about the PMC Kids Rides, which empowers kids across the state to make an impact in the fight against pediatric cancer.

The largest Kids Ride happens right in our backyard, at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester.

This year’s Cranberry Country PMC Kids Ride takes place on June 22, with registration starting at 8 a.m. Coordinator Bill Goldsmith is looking for more riders this year. He stopped by Townsquare Sunday so we could help get the word out.

“There are approximately 20 Kids Rides around the state,” Goldsmith said. “We have been the largest the past couple of years, with more than 200 riders taking part.”

The Cranberry Country Kids Ride welcomes riders from ages two to 16, offering different courses for each age group. All riders must wear a helmet.

The festivities include an opening ceremony, a brief speaking program and a giant party after the ride, featuring a rock-climbing wall, music, balloon artists, pizza and ice cream.

“We want to teach the kids that they can have an amazing time helping others,” Goldsmith said.

Is it hard to recruit kids to take part?

“I spend a lot of time speaking to kids in schools,” he said. “When I ask them if they could save someone’s life just by riding their bike, how many would be interested? A lot of hands go up, and that’s pretty cool.”

There is a $20 registration fee to take part in the Cranberry Country PMC Bike Ride for Kids, plus each rider must raise at least $40 in donations to take part. Goldsmith said every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana Farber.

You can register by visiting kids.pmc.org/cranberrycountry.

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