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Pan-Mass Challenge Participants Tell their Stories on Panraven
Pan-Mass Challenge Participants Tell their Stories on Panraven
Published 08-14-07
Submitted by Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, The
NEEDHAM, MA - August 14, 2007 - Last weekend, more than 5,000 cyclists from 35 states and eight countries rode across the Commonwealth in the 28th annual Pan-Massachusetts Challenge ('PMC'), with the aim of raising $27 million for cancer research and treatment. While all who rode and cheered toward a common goal - to push the organization's 28-year Jimmy Fund contribution to the $200 million mark - the personal significance of the PMC is unique to the individual. In prior years, the easiest way for riders to communicate to friends, family and donors all at once was through their individual "profile pages" on the PMC website, which include a personal bio and photos. What riders were missing was a more holistic, visually rich and interactive way to express the motivation and emotions, the preparation and the experience of the ride - both for themselves and to others.
This year, PMC teamed up with Panraven to enable participants to reflect upon and commemorate the event in a whole new way. Whether riding as a survivor, in honor or memory of a friend or loved one, or simply to help raise money in the fight against cancer, PMC cyclists for the first time had a powerful online multimedia service at their fingertips. The Panraven site serves as both the story creation "engine" and the medium for online sharing and collaboration.
PMC and Panraven worked together closely to make it easy for participants to tell rich, expressive stories. From the two companies' pooled efforts, Panraven developed a distinct "storyboard" for each of the seven different routes. Every storyboard is comprised of special PMC page designs, a route map, stock photos, and background facts and information. Adding their own photos, thoughts and sentiments to the "pre-populated" stock content, participants could then personalize stories that truly encapsulate their own PMC experiences.
Here are some of the ways that PMC participants have already used the Panraven service:
"Panraven is thrilled to contribute to the PMC mission, the gold standard in cancer fundraising. When you start with a subject like cancer, and that virtually everyone participating in the PMC has in some way been personally affected by the disease, then add the sheer athleticism necessary to participate in this event, you have the makings for some heart-wrenching, yet at the same time, uplifting stories" said Frode Eilertsen, Founder and CEO of Panraven. "It's personally rewarding and fulfilling to offer this service to the PMC, to give their participants a medium for expression, and to know that a portion of our proceeds will end up in the hands of one of the most praiseworthy causes, the Jimmy Fund."
Having the expanded online and print ability to share their PMC experiences with potential donors and future participants is sure to become an efficient and effective way for PMCers to increase fundraising, according to Billy Starr, Pan-Massachusetts Challenge founder and executive director. "We are grateful to Panraven for joining the PMC mission and for providing a new way for cyclists and volunteers to share their inspiring PMC stories on a grand scale."
For more information or to tell your own Pan-Mass Challenge story, please visit: www.panraven.com/partner/pmc.html.
About the Pan-Mass Challenge
The PMC, presented by the Red Sox Foundation, Overstock.com, and Covidien, is the nation's first fundraising bike-a-thon and today raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country. On August 4 and 5, 2007, over 5,000 cyclists traveled seven routes, logging between 47 and 190 miles over one or two days, through 46 scenic Massachusetts towns to raise $27 million for cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. For more information, call 800-WE-CYCLE or visit www.pmc.org.
About Panraven, Inc.
Panraven offers an exciting and powerful new way for people to capture, share and treasure their memories and passions. The multimedia service allows people to chronicle and communicate their life experiences through vibrant, expressive stories that can be viewed and shared online and printed in high-quality professionally bound books. Founded in 2005 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Panraven is privately held. For more information, visit www.panraven.com.
Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, The
Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, The
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