June 16, 2008
Zipcar training for Pan-Mass Challenge
Proceeds from PMC-wrapped Zipcars to support team's goal to raise $75,000 for cancer research
This summer, supporting the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is as simple as getting behind the wheel. Zipcar, the world's largest car-sharing company, today announced it is wrapping six Scion xB's, with a portion of the proceeds going to benefit the PMC. This promotion is part of Zipcar's sponsorship of a 16-cyclist PMC team.
The Pan-Mass Challenge is a bike-a-thon in which 5,500 cyclists will cross Massachusetts on Aug. 2 and 3 to raise money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC is the most successful athletic fundraising event in the country, raising twice the sum for charity as any other.
In its effort to meet its fundraising goal, Zipcar will engage Bostonians in several ways throughout the summer. In addition to the PMC-wrapped vehicles, Zipcar is also selling Team Zipcar cycling jerseys, which the public can purchase online at zipcar.com/pmc. The jerseys are identical to those that Zipcar's PMC team will wear while riding up to 190 miles in the Pan-Mass Challenge. Zipcar will also host an event at Kings on June 29. For a $20 entrance fee, the event will include four hours of bowling and billiards, a Zipcar T-shirt, and appetizers. All proceeds will benefit the PMC.
"PMC is a premier fundraising event in the fight against cancer, with 100 percent of every rider dollar raised going directly to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute," said Dan Curtin, General Manager of Zipcar-Boston. "We look forward to supporting and cheering for PMC Team Zipcar this August and working to engage the Zipcar-Boston community throughout the summer to help meet the team's fundraising goals."
PMC-wrapped Scions can be found at Zipcar locations in Brighton, Brookline, Boston, and Somerville. For more information about Zipcar and its PMC team, please visit Zipcar.com/pmc.
About the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge
The Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, an annual bike-a-thon, is a pioneer of the athletic fundraising industry and today raises more money for charity than any other single event in the country. In 2007, the PMC raised $33 million, and, since 1980, it has raised more than $204 million for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. The PMC is a model of fundraising efficiency. In 2007, the PMC donated 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause. The PMC generates half of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue and it is Dana-Farber's single largest contributor. More than 230,000 individual contributions were made in last year's fundraising campaign. This year's goal is to raise $34 million. The PMC is sponsored by the Boston Red Sox Foundation and Overstock.com. For more information about the PMC, visit pmc.org or call 800-WE-CYCLE.
About Zipcar
Zipcar is the world's leading car sharing service with more than 200,000 members and 5,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout 26 North American states and provinces as well as in London, England. As a leader in urban transportation, Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to savvy city residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car in the city. In November 2007, Zipcar announced a merger with Washington D.C.-based Flexcar, immediately expanding operations to more than 50 cities, and enabling future growth into new markets across the United States, Canada, and Europe. For more information, visit Zipcar.com.
Contact
Jackie Herskovitz
Teak Media
(617) 269-7171
jackie@pmc.org
