REHOBOTH

The same message was written on the backs of the 25 T-shirts that lined the backs of students outside the road near Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School on Saturday.

`` We shed tears for those we have lost. We smile at the memories they gave us. We pedal our bikes for those who fight the good fight, and hope for a miracle,'' the shirts said.

More than 4,500 bicyclists, rooted on by volunteers such as the Almquists and Dunlap, participated Saturday in the first day of the two-day, 27th Pan-Massachusetts Challenge bicycle ride.

The riders and their sponsors hope to raise $24 million for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and around the world. Today, two-day riders finishing in Wellesley will pass through Mansfield at about 8:15 a.m., beginning on Rockland Street and on through Maple, Franklin and East streets.

On Saturday morning, riders going from Sturbridge to Bourne or Sturbridge to Wellesley passed through Wrentham, Plainville, North Attleboro, Attleboro and Rehoboth. Riders going from Wellesley to Bourne or Wellesley to Sturbridge rode through Norfolk, Wrentham, Foxboro, Mansfield and Rehoboth.

The riders rode through the area before the temperature reached 90 degrees for the 10th time in the last 11 days. Attleboro's high temperature on Saturday was 91 degrees, at 5:30 p.m., according to the city water department.

Both groups of riders stopped for lunch at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School, which overflowed with cyclists trying to do their part.

Cyclists ranged in age from 15 to the mid-70s. Some were athletic, and had obviously spent hours training. One cyclist had a broken arm. Others rode with prosthetic legs.

And every cyclist and supporter had a different story, even down to their bikes and helmets. There were tandems and pink bikes, helmets with streamers, stuff animals, hands, crowns, and birds on them.

Many of those at Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School were honoring the memory of sophomore Tyler Almquist, who died last Dec. 23 after a 15-year battle with cancer that included seven relapses.

Almquist's mother, Donna, and sister, Jenna, as well as friend Elisa Dunlap, began volunteering at the high school at 7 a.m. Saturday.

Dunlap -- who had danced with Tyler at the fall 2005 Homecoming -- was cutting sandwiches for the cyclists when she sliced her thumb open, requiring five stitches. Yet she returned from the hospital to continue helping out.

Mansfield resident Bruce Hamilton rode in Tyler's memory. Hamilton had been touched by a photograph and a local newspaper story about Tyler's shortly after his death. Hamilton on Saturday wore a copy of that photograph, laminated, around his neck as he pedaled. Meanwhile, the leader of the Kermit the Frog riding team, Steve Branfman, was barely able to talk about his son, Jared.

The team of 17 friends rode in memory of Jared, who was 23 and a patient of the Jimmy Fund when he died on Sept. 17, 2005, from spinal and cranial tumors.

Branfman rode with Ellen, his wife, and son Adam, 22. All the money they raise will go into a special fund known as the Jared Branfman Sunflowers for Life Fund.

Nancy O'Llagan, a cancer patient, was the president of one of the largest groups in PMC and was riding for the Caring for Carcinoid Foundation.

The group had 43 riders from across the country, led by captain Anne Doyle. Alison Hunter and Andy Lindholm were both from New York. Seth Harkness was from Maine, and Malcolm O'Hagan hailed from the District of Columbia.

Their mission was to raise money for Carcinoid of Neuroendocrine Cancer. The foundation was set up in December 2004 and has been awarded more than 100,000 in research funds, with 100 percent going to research.

Although this is Nancy's first year in the PMC, she said the impact has been great; they are spreading awareness and receiving money for research. Their jerseys were designed by Alden Marketing Group and Kirkpatrick-Stockhart, a major pro bono law firm. Nancy said that it `` fills me with joy to see these people,'' that is, the volunteers and the cyclists.

Denise Ober, of Wrentham, who has been riding in the PMC for the past four years, had a list of people she was supporting, including a picture of her parents, both of whom died. Her husband died 15 years ago of a brain tumor.

Her riding partner was Andrea Nardini, who had been involved in the PMC for six years. Both women were part of the group Phat Tuesday, from Franklin, which had raised $80,000 this year and about $700,000 since its inception. The group's pedal partner was named Kira, a young girl who had cancer.

Ober said that this was among the `` most moving, unforgettable weekends,'' and Kira was `` just amazing.'' There were so many people that were involved in the PMC that it is outstanding, she said.

`` Riding is the easy part. It's the patients that have it hard,'' Ober said.

Scene in North Attleboro

In North Attleboro, as riders cruised by at 10 to 20 m.p.h., supporters and residents on Ellis Road cheered them on, holding signs and blowing noisemakers.

Some were there for individual riders. Others, such as Ellen Lupian and her young son Tom of Ellis Road, were there just to admire the cyclists' determination. They had watched the first cyclists go by at 7 a.m. and were still cheering them on at 10.

Peg and Charlie Weisker of Foxboro stood on the roadside, cheering while waiting for their daughter, Kristen Weisker of Mansfield, who was riding with team Fun Check.

Kristen has ridden in the PMC for six years. Her team name comes from when she was caught in the tsunami a few years ago; she and her friends would always ask each other if they were having fun yet.

Kristen's ex-husband had cancer, and while that is certainly partly why she rides, her parents say, `` she just loves to ride.''

Alexander `` Sandy'' Curew, riding for the first time, lost his older sister Luanne Garvin to cancer three years ago. His sister, Mary, did the Challenge last year and is participating again.

Bobby Curew, her other brother, was there with his family and Dana Garvin, Luanne's husband, and their daughter Laura.

Sandy, from Swampscott, is a personal trainer in Marblehead. Dana said that the morning had been `` very moving,'' seeing all the cyclists, riding in hope, for those loved ones, and for friends. Laura is thinking about joining the challenge in a few years.

Frank Duffy of North Attleboro, and his best friend Mike Donilon from Alexandra, Va., were riding for the fourth year.

They rode for Meghan Duffy, Frank's daughter, who was diagnosed with ALL (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia) shortly after birth. Meg was there with her mother, Colleen, her brother, Andrew, and Trish Donilon's family.

Andrew, 14, said that in two years he will ride in the Challenge to support his sister.

The two families were in the same spot they had been in past years, at the intersection of Ellis Street and Nate Whipple Highway.

Meg, who is entering Grade 5 at Martin Elementary School in North Attleboro this fall, was all smiles. She couldn't stop smiling, especially when her dad stopped to say hi. Before he continued the ride, Frank kissed his daughter goodbye and she called out, `` Ride fast!'' He seemed to pedal just a little harder as he rounded the bend and went out of view.

Sun Chronicle photographer Mark Stockwell, riding for the third time, was cheered on by Maryann Falvey and Thelma Gentili, who had noisemakers and streamers.

`` It's a fabulous cause. Cancer is going to touch everyone we know,'' Falvery said.

One rider fell off their bicycle at the intersection of High and Ellis streets. However, the rider was not seriously injured, and resumed riding soon after, North Attleboro fire officials said.