Billy Starr

NEEDHAM, Mass., July 31, 2009, The New York Times — IN building the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge charity bikeathon into one of the top “thons” in the nation, Billy Starr, 58, has learned the importance of locking in donations up front.

To raise enough money to participate in the Pan-Massachusetts Challenge, a two-day charity bike trip across Massachusetts, Rachel Gabriel started an unusual fund-raising event of her own, an evening of belly dancing performances. Her "Shimmy Fund" raised nearly $4,700 last year for the Jimmy Fund and put her in the Pan-Mass Challenge.