08/11/2026
Riding for More Tomorrows
For Briarwood resident Steve Bernacki and his family, the Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) is much more than a bike ride. It is a deeply personal commitment to helping find more tomorrows for people living with cancer.
For 15 years, Steve and his wife, Karen, have volunteered at Mass Maritime in Bourne, welcoming riders to the finish line after the first day of the PMC. For the past three years, Steve has also joined his son on the road, riding the 25-mile route and raising $6,000 for cancer research. His son has been riding the 192-mile route for an incredible 23 years, raising more than $140,000.
Their family’s commitment comes from personal experience. They have lost family members and friends to cancer, while others they love continue to fight the disease. As Steve put it, “We’ll keep coming back as long as there is cancer, or as long as we are able.”
This year's PMC also brought together even more members of the Briarwood community. While Steve and Karen were supporting riders at the finish line, Briarwood staff were volunteering behind the scenes at Holy Cross, helping with event logistics.
We are proud to celebrate Steve and Karen’s dedication, along with the many residents, families, and staff who come together to support a cause that touches so many lives.
100% of rider-raised donations support cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
