MANCHESTER, NH – Rich Branch didn’t need to prompt his daughter Emma to take part in the upcoming Greater Manchester PMC Kids Ride that supports cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Helping people, after all, is in her nature.
“Emma is a pretty giving kid. Usually, instead of birthday presents she has asked her friends to make donations to the animal shelter on E. Dunbarton Rd or to Families in Transition,” Rich says.
The Greater Manchester PMC Kids Ride, which is being held Sunday, June 3 at Saint Anselm College, has an even more special meaning for the Branch family. Rich Branch is a 24-year cancer survivor and two of Emma’s grandparents have battled the disease.
“We try to do whatever we can to help raise money to fight the disease. When we saw there was a PMC Kids Ride in our area, we jumped at the chance to participate,” Rich said.
Emma, a fourth grade student at the Maple Avenue Elementary School, will be joined by kids ages 3-13 from all over for the second annual ride. There will be more than 30 PMC Kids Rides held throughout New England this summer as part of the Pan-Mass Challenge.
The Greater Manchester ride made a successful debut in 2017, ranking 11th in fundraising among all PMC Kids Rides. Organizers of this year’s event are looking to top that.
The Greater Manchester PMC Kids Ride is quickly turning into one of the more kid-friendly events of the summer. In addition to the ride, there will be music, games, bike decorating, face painting, a photo booth, food, raffles and more.
This year’s event will again honor the memory of Emma Bechert, a Bedford resident and former PMC Kids Ride rider who lived her 14 years of life fully with the help of Dana-Farber while battling brain cancer.
Registration is $25 and entries will be accepted at the event. To register in advance or sign up to volunteer, visit: www.kids.pmc.org/greatermanchesternh.aspx.
About the PMC Kids Rides
PMC Kids Rides became an official PMC program in 2005 as a way to include young cyclists in the Pan-Mass Challenge mission of raising money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber. The program engages youth in philanthropy, instills the value of working for the benefit of others and promotes athletic fitness and physical activity. Since the first PMC Kids Ride, the little road warriors have raised more than $8 million for cancer care and research. For more information, visit www.kids.pmc.org and the Greater Manchester PMC Kids Ride Facebook page.