When the annual Pan-Mass Challenge bike-a-thon for cancer research begins Saturday, two Berkshire County riders who bonded as soul mates and survivors of the disease will team up.
The event is a major fundraiser for the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Womenâs Cancer Center in Boston. And Fredrick Knight, a first-time rider, and his close friend, Suzanne Merritt, credit the renowned hospital for saving their lives.
During a conversation with The Eagle, they also pointed out that their goal â giving back to Dana-Farber and to their Berkshire supporters â has a direct community impact.
Thatâs because, in 2015, Berkshire Medical Center became an affiliate of the Dana-Farber Cancer Care Collaborative, meaning that BMCâs standards and practices are validated by one of the nationâs leading cancer care and research institutions, benefiting the hospitalâs patients.