The Pan Mass Challenge, started by Billy Starr in 1980, is now the largest athletic fundraising event in the world. 100% of the money the PMC raises goes for work at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber). In 2015 the event raised over $45,000,000, and the cumulative amount of money the event has raised over the years is simply staggering.
In an effort to bring a few of us together for a common cause within the PMC, we thought creating a team would be both fun and bring more focus to our efforts.
Team Lizard was originally organized by Dave Mittelman, Greg Shoukimas and Mike Lorig to fund basic cancer research fellowships at the Dana-Farber. When we were thinking about putting a team together, Mike suggested that SoBe Ice Tea, (he was an original investor) might be willing to provide their lizard logo riding jerseys and shorts as a uniform, free of charge to us. We approached them, and suggested that we would call ourselves Team Lizard if they provided us with all the gear. They did, and Team Lizard was born. At a later date, SoBe was sold and we decided to start making our own Team Lizard riding jerseys and shorts.
Team Lizard supports general operations, and designates a portion of their fundraising efforts to the nursing care at the DFCI. Nursing care at the DFCI is known for its person-centered, relationship-based approach. This approach to care allows for symptom management and integrative health interventions that best address the patient’s needs for healing body, mind and spirit. Care is provided within the context of the patient’s family and community using the best evidence available. Several initiatives that reflect DFCI nursing’s commitment to these principles, including the Integrative Nursing Program and the Cantor Center for Nursing Research are supported through Team Lizard fundraising. Please email us if you would like to learn more about the nursing integrative health and healing programs.
Over the years many great people have ridden the PMC with us for a few years, and we would like to thank them all for their participation in fund raising efforts. Equally as important, we would like to acknowledge the camaraderie and great times we had together. Most of the core is still participating. Most excitingly, many of the children of the original team and their friends have joined in. The PMC tradition is moving into the next generation. For many families, the PMC has been something that kids have grown up with. Children have gone from raising money at street side lemonade stands for the PMC, to full-fledged members of the Team, now participating as riders, uniform designers and even helping to organize the weekend. Members of the team have also volunteered to help move luggage, set up and break down water stops and the finish area, and in many other ways if riding was not in the cards for that year. Team Lizard is one of the oldest teams, and is one of the top fundraising teams of the event. We hope the tradition carries on for many years to come!
-Michele and Jamie Mittelman
Captains