Framingham Toddler To Be Honored at Fenway Park

Autumn Buxton of Framingham has been named a Pedal Partner of the 34th annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge and will be honored at Fenway Park tomorrow, May 19.

As a PMC Pedal Partner, Autumn, who is just 22 months old, will be matched with a team of cyclists who will ride in the August event in her honor. 

A vital part of the PMC weekend, Pedal Partners inspire more than 5,500 cyclists as they ride up to 190-miles across Massachusetts to raise money for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund.

Autumn, 22 months old, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2012 and is being treated at Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic.

The PMC Pedal Partner program, now in its 13th year, matches Jimmy Fund Clinic patients with PMC cyclists. PMC Pedal Partners range in age from infants to teenagers.

Autumn will be honored May 19 at Fenway Park in Boston during the PMC Pedal Partner program kick-off party.

During the event, Pedal Partners and their families will meet the cyclists riding in their honor while enjoying games, activities and brunch. The PMC Pedal Partner program is sponsored by John Hancock.

The Pedal Partner program offers an inspiring opportunity for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric cancer patients. For the children, being designated a Pedal Partner is an exciting experience that can be a distraction from their cancer treatments. More often than not, PMC cyclists and Pedal Partner families form long-lasting friendships that extend beyond the PMC.

Aso on Sunday, a Framingham High senior Michael Berkson is organizing the first-ever PMC Framingham Kids Ride in town to benefit the Jimmy Fund. Registration is ongoing and can be done Sunday morning too. The event is for kids ages 3-13. For moe information click here.

While riding on PMC weekend, cyclists are greeted by poster-sized photographs of the Pedal Partners, displayed along the route as inspiration to get them through the challenging ride.

On Saturday, Aug. 3, Pedal Partners and their families will gather at a water stop on the PMC route in Lakeville to cheer on their teams. The riders will stop to spend time with their Pedal Partner before getting back on the road. For riders and families, this meet up is emotional and meaningful.

“Pedal Partners inspire PMC cyclists to train, raise money, and complete the vigorous cycling challenge,” says Billy Starr, PMC founder and executive director in a press release. “The Pedal Partner program is a unique way for the PMC to extend our ride to the children and families for whom cancer is a reality. Being connected to the children for whom they are riding and raising money is an emotional and empowering experience for PMCers, many of whom form lasting bonds with their Pedal Partners and families.”

The Jimmy Fund solely supports Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, raising funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research to improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world.

This year celebrates the 60th anniversary (#JFRedSox60) of the Jimmy Fund and Boston Red Sox relationship.

The Pan-Mass Challenge is a pioneer of the athletic fundraising industry and today raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. This year’s goal is to raise $38 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund. The PMC, an annual bike-a-thon that spans up to 190 miles, is a model of fundraising efficiency, donating 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar to the cause. Since the PMC’s 1980 inception, the event has raised $375 million. The 34th annual PMC is Aug. 3 and 4.