Sen. John Kerry joined thousands of cyclists, volunteers and supporters on the first day of the 190-mile Pan-Massachusetts Challenge in search for more funds for cancer research. The 29th annual Pan-Mass Challenge’s goal is to raise more than $34 million this year.

The money is not due until Nov. 9, so well-wishers still have the opportunity to donate more funds to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston through Jimmy Fund. To donate, visit pmc.org.

Kerry has raised more than $120,000 so far for cancer research. The Pan-Mass Challenge has raised $20 million for cancer research this year, and more than $204 million total since 1980. John Kerry told the Associated Press this year’s ride will be attributed to fellow Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in May. The 76-year-old senator was diagnosed with a malignant glioma, the most common primary brain tumour, accounting for more than half of the 18,000 primary malignant brain tumours diagnosed each year in the United States.

About 20,000 people die of cancer every day worldwide. Cancer also is increasing in developing countries as people embrace habits linked to cancer such as smoking and fattier diets.

Almost 4,000 people are diagnosed with cancer daily in the U.S. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Cancer is more common as people get older.

The most successful athletic fundraising event in the nation, the Pan-Massachsetts Challenge is an annual bike-a-thon founded in 1980 by Bill Star, who lost three family members before he turned 27. Riders participating in the challenge cycle across the state, raising money for cancer research at Dana-Farber. Their goal is to raise money to combat cancer, a disease that had claimed the lives of so many people.

In 2007, 100 percent of all funds raised by PMC riders went to the Jimmy Fund.

“The success of this event is due to the fact that all PMC riders are encouraged - actually, required - to take their fundraising commitment as seriously as their physical commitment to ride the event,” Starr says, according to the official Web site of PMC. The organizers hope to provide Dana Faber’s doctors and researchers the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers.

According to the PMC Web site, since 1980, more than 42,000 riders and tens of thousands of volunteers have worked together to make this event one of the most successful athletic fundraising event in the nation. The lesson of the PMC is that “Persistence is rewarded and dreams are to be chased.”

Among the participants at the Pan-Mass Challenge were survivors of the disease, people who have a family member affected by this illness or even people who lost friends or somebody dear because of cancer. The PMC also celebrates breast cancer survivors and honours them for their strength and courage. The event brings awareness to the public that people fighting cancer still need support and highlights the fact that specialists are still searching for a cure.