“[In] any way we can give back and help others that are going through this pain of the loss of a family member or friend, we want to be there,” stated Nick Fiumara ’26. On the morning of Sunday, May 5th, the Belmont Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) Kid’s Ride took place at Belmont Hill. The PMC hosts similar rides across the Northeast, all raising money for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the world leader in comprehensive adult and pediatric cancer research. These rides occur across the region; each host location has a unique and special connection to the event.
After the passing of Cliff Goodband the grandfather of Peter Fiumara ’24, Connor Goodband ’25, Nick Fiumara ’26, and Owen Goodband ’28, from lung and bone cancer in 2010, the Fiumara-Goodband family wanted to spread awareness about the hardships of cancer and raise money for Dana-Farber in the process. As children, the Fiumara boys rode on the former course in Needham to pay tribute to their late grandfather. After years of riding, the family was inspired to bring the ride back to their grandfather’s second home. The ride was moved to Belmont Hill in 2023.
The most recent event was a huge success. The ride raised over $8,000 towards cancer research at Dana-Farber. Forty local kids signed up and came with their parents. All were eager to begin the ride as they crowded the start line mounted on their bikes, psyched for the ride to begin. On “Go,” they were off to the races, never looking back. Cheering squads of twenty-five volunteers, many Belmont Hill students, lined the course. Thomas Danahy ’26 was among the crowd watching the kids lap the course for over an hour. After the ride finished, he stated, “I was so impressed with how many laps the kids accomplished during the race. They seemed like they did not want to stop!”
Once everything was cleaned up and everybody began to head home, Nick expressed, “PMC means a lot to my family. Any way we can help to raise money for cancer we are going to do it. I hope after the Fiumara-Goodbands no longer attend Belmont Hill that kids keep bringing [the ride] here. It is an amazing foundation and I am grateful for everyone who volunteered.”
He added, “Next year we are aiming to make it the best one yet!” It’s never too early to get excited for the PMC Kid’s Ride 2025. The Panel gives a special thank you to Mrs. Sweeney, the ride’s faculty advisor, for her years in relentless pursuit of the cause. She has left a lasting legacy at Belmont Hill which will be remembered by students for decades following her retirement.
