Over $30,000 Raised So Far Toward $85,000 Goal

With just under three weeks until the 2017 Pan Mass Challenge (PMC) ride, Team Elizabeth is in high gear under Elizabeth’s elder son Scott’s leadership. “Scott is on fire with this effort,” says dad Gordon, who gladly passed the torch of captainship this year.

The team, now 21-members strong for this fifth year ride, has raised an impressive $33,000 already (as of press time), toward an ambitious goal of $85,000. New this year, fundraising events for the ride have been held in both Brooklyn and Chicago, with $7,000 in support coming from these events alone.

Team members Laura Canning and Kristin Wright planned the Brooklyn fundraiser. Although the day of the event was terribly rainy, Laura reports that the turn out was phenomenal nonetheless, with over 120 people gathering at a neighborhood lounge in Greenpoint called “t.b.d.” to support the team.

The Chicago event, held the same weekend as the city’s Old Town Art Fair, was hosted at the apartment of team member Chris Sweitzer, with 50 to 60 people in attendance, including seven Team Elizabeth members.

Scott says, “We invited friends and family to come celebrate with Team E in Chicago’s busiest neighborhood that weekend. What I found particularly fun about the event was that we were able to spread awareness to a crowd that may have otherwise never heard of the PMC. Word from the PMC organization is that last year there were only nine riders from Chicago at the entire event. This year, Team E alone now has five riders from the Windy City!”

Before this year’s fundraising began, Elizabeth’s memorial endowment totaled just over $490,000. With the $33,000 raised to date for the 2017 ride, the endowment has officially passed the half million dollar mark. Achieving such a major milestone in only five years is a beautiful reflection of Elizabeth’s spirit still very present and at work in the world. The team is now turning its energy and determination toward reaching this year’s substantial goal of raising $85,000.

Team member Alex Shea writes, “On August 5th, when Team E comes together to ride across the state of Massachusetts, I hope to be able to talk about two things. I hope to be able to talk about Elizabeth, and the incredible life that she lived. And I hope to be able to talk about the record-breaking amount of money that we raised for a cause that is as important as any that currently exists.”

As always, Elizabeth’s family appreciates gifts of any amount and is grateful for the enormous outpouring of support that continues in her memory. To make a donation to the team or to any individual rider, please visit the team’s PMC page. If you prefer to donate by check, please make the check out to Pan Mass Challenge with the Elizabeth Alling Sewall Endowment on the memo line and mail to: Gordon Sewall, 57 Wheelwright Farm, Cohasset, MA 02025