Cancer touches so many lives and motivates so many to raise money for research to prevent and cure it. Our own Patti Abbate, the late publisher of The Hull Times, died of pancreatic cancer in the spring of 2022. Since then, the Patterson family of Hull, who lived across the street from Patti and her husband, Tom Foye, have included her in their dedications of their annual Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC), and this year is no different.

**BIG WHEELS.** Hull’s Patterson family is once again leading the Pan-Mass Challenge Team PopSciCycles to ride in the fundraising bicycle race in memory of late Times Publisher Patti Abbate. Some team members are shown with Graham Mattison of Atlantic Cycles as they prepare for the August event. [Courtesy photo]

The PMC is a Massachusetts bike-a-thon that raises tens of millions of dollars each year for cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Having started in 1980, the PMC will this year surpass the $1B mark for the total funds raised. And this year, Lisa, Stu, Brad, and Julia Patterson will ride 165 miles, from Wellesley to Provincetown, on August 3 and 4 while their daughter, KK, will volunteer at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Bourne, where the PMC ends on the first day of riding.

Two years ago, the Pattersons organized Team PopSciCycles, named after the McGraw/Patterson Division of Population Sciences that Stu’s father, Dr. Bradford Patterson, founded and led in the 1970s. This year, they’re excited to team up with Atlantic Cycles, a full-service bike shop at 163 Nantasket Ave., owned and operated by father and son, Graham and George Mattison, that opened in 2023.

Graham and George have registered as PMC Virtual Riders in order to raise money for the PMC. Atlantic Cycles is also offering a 10% discount on any services they provide to registered PMC riders.

“We are thrilled to support the PMC and Team PopSciCycles,” Graham Mattison said “Dana Farber provided wonderful care for my mother when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer. My wife is also a breast cancer survivor, so the fight against cancer is something that is close to our hearts.”

One-hundred percent of every dollar raised by riders goes to Dana Farber for cancer care and research.

Stop by Atlantic Cycles if you would like to donate or visit https://profile.pmc.org/GM0246. You can also learn more about the Pattersons’ ride and donate to their team at https://profile.pmc.org/LP0071.