Billy Starr – The Pioneer of Athletic Fundraising

About This Project

Summary

In 1980, a few years after losing his mother to melanoma at age 49, Billy Starr, a man with a passion for cycling and an activist spirit, created the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC)—the nation’s single most successful athletic fundraiser—to make an impact in the fight against cancer. The PMC draws more than 6,500 cyclists globally to fundraise for its sole beneficiary, the top-ranked Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Dana-Farber). In 2024, the PMC will cross $1 billion in lifetime fundraising.

Goals & Objectives

Under Billy’s leadership, the PMC community has one goal: to raise as much money as possible to fight cancer. Since 1980, the PMC has raised $972 million. Billy has fostered a fiercely dedicated community of riders and volunteers – the PMC passes through 100% of these rider-raised funds each year.

Results & Impact

When Billy founded the PMC, the five-year cancer survival rate was 50%. Today, it’s 67%, marking significant progress and showing how PMC funds can make a profound difference in patients’ lives worldwide. The PMC raises more money than any other single athletic fundraiser – $72 million in 2023.