The Pan-Mass Challenge handed over a record $72 million to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute on Sunday, moving the pioneering cross-state bicycle ride within sight of $1 billion raised.

The summertime ride to the tip of Cape Cod is the largest single-event athletic fundraiser in the world, raising $972 million for cancer care since 1980. It is the largest single contributor to Dana-Farber and its Jimmy Fund.

A total of 6,500 participants cycled up to 211 miles across the state for the 44th PMC in August.

PMC donates 100% of every rider-raised dollar directly to Dana-Farber to fund lifesaving cancer research, treatment and patient care. The organization is Dana-Farber’s single largest contributor, accounting for more than 60% of the annual revenue at the Jimmy Fund.

Last year, the PMC raised $69 million.