UF Professor Dan Connaughton with his bike.
A UF professor put down his running shoes for a pair of wheels.
After completing the Boston Marathon five times, Dan Connaughton, the associate dean in the UF College of Health and Human Performance, is now preparing to take on the Pan-Mass Challenge.
As an avid cyclist and director of the Florida Bicycle Safety Education Program, Connaughton said he’s excited to pedal through the 190-mile, two-day bike-a-thon in his hometown of Boston, Massachusetts.
Beginning in Sturbridge on Aug. 6, the event will take place all across the state.
Connaughton has known about the event for nearly 25 years, but his father and sister have inspired him to participate after they were both diagnosed with cancer in the past year.
The event raises money for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where Connaughton’s sister will begin treatment next week.
Last year, the Pan-Mass Challenge raised $45 million, Amanda Kelley, an account supervisor for Cone Communications, wrote in an email. The event has raised a total of $500 million for cancer care and research.
“Most participants ride in honor of a family member or friend fighting the disease,” she wrote.
To prepare for a ride alongside thousands of other participants in August, Connaughton said he reduced his running and focused on cycling.
“Being back home is always a pleasure,” he said. “Especially spending time with my family and doing the ride with friends to do my small part.”
Donate to Connaughton here.
