Winchester’s Nace excited to take on new challenge within PMC | Middlesex East

2026 is shaping up to be a big year for Winchester resident Belle Nace as the Pan Mass Challenge tapped her to become its newest fundraising coordinator. In this role, Nace will support the organization’s year-round fundraising efforts, assist with donor opportunities and help strengthen the PMC’s mission to raise critical funds for cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Nace, a Winchester High School graduate with the Class of 2021, began her involvement with the PMC back in 2018 when she completed her first challenge and she’s been involved with the organization ever since. Since then, she’s ridden the PMC for five years and volunteered for three.

“We are thrilled to welcome Belle to the PMC team,” said Michele Sommer, PMC, CFO. “Her firsthand experience of our mission, combined with her education in marketing and her commitment to meaningful donor experiences, makes her an asset to our organization and community.”

Besides Winchester, Nace spent time in Scituate, and several years in Newark, DE, while attending the University of Delaware where she earned her bachelor’s degree.

In August of this year, she joined the organization as a fundraising intern and later transitioned to a full-time position, starting as fundraising coordinator on Dec. 1. But it’s not just about the volunteering for Nace.

“I’ve been involved with the PMC in several ways beyond volunteering,” she said. “I first joined as a rider and fundraiser, completing five PMC weekend rides. I continued my commitment to the organization through volunteer work, which eventually led to my role as the PMC’s fundraising intern. Today, I’m proud to be a full-time employee.”

Nace first became involved with the PMC through her father, Dave Nace, whom she said has been riding for more than two decades.

“Growing up,” Nace said, “the PMC was a huge part of our family’s lives; we were always there cheering him on, talking about training and supporting the cause. Seeing his commitment and hearing the stories of friends and family who benefited from care at Dana-Farber made a big impact on me.”

The Winchester resident then began riding as soon as she could, starting out on her 15th birthday. She rode from Wellesley to Provincetown. Unfortunately, in 2016, Nace said her grandfather John lost his battle with cancer.

“Suddenly, what began as joining my dad in something meaningful to him quickly became something deeply meaningful to me, as well,” she acknowledged.

Nace said the energy of the PMC weekend, including the community, the crowds and the shared purpose are “unforgettable.” She added how as she continued participating with the organization her “Why I PMC” list became longer and longer.

She said, “thanks to the money raised and research conducted, I have more time with my Living Proof family members and friends.”

Now that she’s become the new fundraising coordinator, Nace will be quite busy. She said her new role “encompasses a wide range of responsibilities, which my experience as a fundraising intern and my background in marketing made me well-prepared for.” This includes aligning fundraising initiatives with the PMC’s strategic goals, supporting year-round fundraising programs, and assisting in cultivating meaningful donor opportunities.

“A key part of my work,” she added, “involves collaborating with the PMC team to provide rider and event support across our annual programming. I also manage critical daily fundraising operations, including processing donations, maintaining donor records, assisting with reconciliations, handling rider and donor inquiries, and supporting matching gift processing alongside the fundraising associate.”

Nace will also “work closely with the marketing team to ensure our messaging is cohesive, compelling and inspiring for riders, donors and supporters alike. I’m especially passionate about creating authentic donor experiences, and I’m excited to bring together my skills, experience, and enthusiasm to excel in this role and help the PMC continue to thrive.”

The PMC was founded in 1980 by  Billy Starr, who remains the event’s founder and chairman, an annual cyclist, and a fundraiser. The PMC has since raised $1.125 billion for adult and pediatric patient care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund.

Even 45 years in, the PMC continues to grow. Nace attributed that to “the strength of its uniquely and incredibly committed community and the deep personal connection so many have to our mission. Cancer impacts everyone in some way, and people are drawn to the PMC because they know their efforts will truly make a difference.”

She said that trust is “reinforced by Dana-Farber’s ability to use the funds we raise to make real, measurable impact for patients and their families.”

The event donates 100 percent of every rider-raised dollar directly to the cause, generating 67 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue as Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor. The PMC has successfully melded support from committed cyclists, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and individual donors, all of whom are essential to the PMC’s goal and model: to attain maximum fundraising efficiency while increasing its annual gift.

The PMC’s hope and aspiration is to provide Dana-Farber’s doctors and researchers with the necessary resources to discover cures for all cancers.

For Nace, her new role will allow her to sustain that mission in different ways.

“I hope to help sustain and build on that momentum by strengthening the fundraising experience for riders and donors,” she noted, “ensuring they feel supported, appreciated, and connected to the mission. By fostering authentic relationships, enhancing communication and helping people see the direct impact of their contributions, I can play a part in keeping our community engaged and inspired, so the PMC can continue to grow and accelerate its impact year after year.”

When it comes to the relationship between the PMC and Dana-Farber, Nace called it “the heart of our mission.” She added how it’s “only grown stronger over the years.”

“The PMC was founded by Billy Starr to make strides in cancer care and research, and as the PMC community has expanded, so has its impact,” the Winchester resident remarked.

She stressed how 100 percent of every dollar raised goes directly to Dana-Farber, allowing the institute to use those funds immediately and strategically to advance research, accelerate discoveries and enhance patient programs.

“Dana-Farber continually demonstrates the tangible results of this support, which deepens the connection our riders, volunteers and donors feel to the cause,” she added. “Together, the PMC and Dana-Farber are united by a shared vision: creating a world without cancer. Every mile ridden and every dollar raised brings us closer to that goal, and our partnership continues to move us forward, closer by the mile.”

Obviously, the PMC’s biggest fundraising event is the PMC itself, held every year on the first weekend in August. This year, it will commence on Aug. 1 and 2. However, the organization holds other fundraising events, as well.

Those represent the many spokes of the PMC wheel. Each spoke helps drive the mission forward. These include the PMC Winter Cycle, which is coming up at the end of January, as well as PMC Unpaved and PMC Kids Rides.

“Each event brings our community together in different ways while supporting the same cause,” Nace said.

In her new role as fundraising coordinator, Nace acknowledged those who came before and helped guide her on this current path. She specifically pointed to the previous fundraising coordinator Jessica Otto Guay, who, she said, “helped guide me through my internship at the PMC and supported me through the entire process.”

She added how she “learned so many lessons and valuable insights from the entire team at PMC, most specifically our fundraising and admin team. I’ve had the unique opportunity to grow into this role through my experience as a fundraising intern. That hands-on start allowed me to learn the day-to-day processes, understand our riders’ and donors’ needs and see firsthand what makes PMC fundraising so impactful.”

In 2025, the PMC brought together 6,000 riders, 3.500 volunteers and thousands of supporters all united in the fight against cancer. Together, they pedaled across Massachusetts, fueled by determination, hope and the shared mission to fund lifesaving cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

For more information on the Pan-Mass Challenge, visit www.pmc.org.