Merrimack Child Among Top Fighters Against Cancer

MERRIMACK, NH — Max Mendez of Merrimack is determined to help doctors and researchers find a cure for cancer, as he also fights to finish his own battle against leukemia. When he was 6 years old, Max was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and after a year of what appeared to be a successful treatment, the cancer relapsed in August 2017. Now, Max is finishing up an even more rigorous two-year treatment plan as he hopes to kick cancer once and for all. His treatment is set to finish this July.

Next month, Max will join more than 100 local children in the Greater Manchester PMC Kids Ride, a mini bike ride to raise money for cancer treatment and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. All proceeds go toward the cause, which includes adult and pediatric care. Max, a patient at Dana-Farber, will participate as part of Team #Mighty Max.

At last year's event, Max was the top fundraiser, having contributed more than $3,400 to Dana-Farber. He also participated in other fundraising events, bringing in almost $40,000 toward cancer treatment and research over the past several years, according to event organizers. Plus, Max has collected toys for patients of Boston Children's Hospital and Dana Farber's Jimmy Fund Clinic.

The Greater Manchester PMC Kids Ride will take place at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Sunday, June 2. Children ages 4 to 13 will participate, with the goal of of raising $47,000 total, according to event organizers. The Manchester event will be part of about 30 PMC Kids Rides taking place throughout New England this year.

After the kids' bike ride, adults will participate in their own bike-a-thon to raise funds toward the cause. The 40th annual Pan-Mass Ride Weekend is planned for Aug. 3 to Aug. 4. More than 6,600 cyclists will pedal 192 miles, with the goal of raising $58 million for Dana-Farber Institute.

According to the event organizers, the Pan-Mass Ride is the most successful single fundraising event in the county — since the event's inception in 1980, the bike-a-thon has raised $654 million for cancer treatment and patient care at Dana-Farber Institute. Every dollar raised by the cyclists goes toward the cause. The bike ride accounts for about 55 percent of annual revenues of the Jimmy Fund Clinic, which is part of Dana-Farber.

Earlier this month, pediatric patients of the Jimmy Fund Clinic came to Fenway Park in Boston to meet their PMC Pedal Partners — adult teams who are cycling in their honor in August. More than 50 of the clinic's 100 patients participated in the emotional morning on May 4 event, featuring speakers and an appearance by the Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster.

For more information about Pan-Mass Challenge or to register, visit www.pmc.org. To register for the kids' bike ride, visit www.kids.pmc.org/greatermanchesternh.