Medfield's Olivia Bonfilio to be Honored at Fenway Park on May 14

Olivia Bonfilio, 9, of Medfield, has been named a Pedal Partner of the 32nd annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge and will be honored at Fenway Park on Saturday, May 14. 

As a PMC Pedal Partner, Olivia will inspire more than 5,000 cyclists to ride up to 190-miles across Massachusetts and raise money for adult and pediatric cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund.

Olivia was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia in November 2010 and is being treated in Dana-Farber’s Jimmy Fund Clinic. The PMC Pedal Partner program matches Jimmy Fund Clinic patients with PMC cyclists who will ride in their honor. PMC Pedal Partners range in age from infants to teenagers.

The Pedal Partner program offers an inspiring opportunity for PMC cyclists to connect with pediatric cancer patients. For the children, being a 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.

On Saturday, May 14, Pedal Partners, their families, and the cyclists riding for them will meet for the first time at the Pedal Partner Party at Fenway Park. There they will talk, play games, eat brunch, and begin to form a relationship that will extend through PMC weekend, which is Aug. 6 and 7.

During the PMC, photographs of the Pedal Partners will line the bike routes, motivating riders to keep cycling.  Many Pedal Partners will meet their cycling teams on Saturday, Aug. 6 at a water stop in Lakeville along the PMC route. Pedal Partners and their families connect with their teams and hear stories from the road. For riders, meeting up with the children while riding in the PMC is emotional and meaningful.

“Pedal Partners inspire and motivate PMC riders to train, raise money, and complete the vigorous cycling challenge,” said Billy Starr, PMC founder and executive director. “The Pedal Partner program is a special way for us to extend our ride to the children and families who are fighting the battle against cancer.  Being connected to the children for whom they are riding and raising money is an emotional and empowering experience for PMC riders.”

About the Jimmy Fund

The Jimmy Fund supports Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, helping to raise funds for adult and pediatric cancer care and research and improve the chances of survival for cancer patients around the world. It is an official charity of the Boston Red Sox, as well as the official charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, and the Variety Children's Charity of New England. Since 1948, the generosity of millions of people has helped the Jimmy Fund (www.jimmyfund.org) save countless lives and reduce the burden of cancer.

About the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge

The PMC is a pioneer in the athletic fundraising event industry and today raises more money for charity than any other in the country. On Aug. 7 and 8, 2010, 5,200 cyclists will travel one of 10 routes, logging between 47 and 190 miles over one or two days, through 46 Massachusetts cities and towns. Their collective goal is to raise more than $31 million for adult and pediatric patient care and cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund and bring the organization’s 31-year fundraising total to more than $300 million. The PMC is presented by the Red Sox Foundation and the New Balance Foundation. For more information about the PMC, call 800-WE-CYCLE or visitwww.pmc.org.