Adam Bigelow is a lot like his fellow Bostonites: He runs on Dunkin’.
Well, actually, on Friday, June 6 — National Donut Day — he’ll be biking on Dunkin’.
The social cycler is no stranger to silly challenges. In May of 2024, he biked to every Taco Bell in Rhode Island. And in 2023, he biked across the United States in 70 days.
But this year, his challenge is personal.
This year, his journey is all in honor of his girlfriend, Lily, who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis while on a camping trip in Grand Teton National Park last year.
“I felt pretty powerless, but I wanted to help,” he said in a recent social media video. “I love biking, and when I found out that the National MS Society has charity bike rides that go to the tip of Cape Cod each year, I signed up.”
Bigelow said he wanted to “do something fun” before the actual charity ride, and that’s how he came up with the idea: He would bike to all of Boston’s 96 Dunkin’ locations, across 80 miles, eating 5,000 calories in Munchkins, in one day.
In another social media video, Bigelow mapped out the ride, noting that he ran into one major problem: “Boston is actually much bigger than I realized.”
Although downtown Boston is home to 24 Dunkin’ locations, he realized, there were over three times as many in the surrounding neighborhoods.
“I did a pretty thorough cross-reference of the Dunkin’ website with Google Maps, and in total, there are 119 Dunkin’s in the Boston area,” he explained. “From there, I excluded 19 locations because they’re either in sports venues, at the airport, or they’re closed for health code violations.”
From there, he had to find the shortest path. He concluded that he will begin the ride in East Boston at 4:30 a.m. when the first Dunkin’ opens.
He’ll ride throughout the city, moving south, until he reaches Dorchester, which will prompt him to turn around and head north until he reaches his final location at its 7:30 p.m. closing.
Bigelow said that even if he only stops for five minutes at each location, it’ll be a tight ride. Still, he hopes to eat Munchkins, the brand’s signature donut holes, throughout the day.
As sweet — and maybe stomachache-inducing — as this ride is, Bigelow said it’s “all to raise awareness for MS.”
On his fundraising page, where he has already collected over $2,000 of his $3,000 goal, Bigelow is offering incentives for his supporters.
“To tie it all together, anyone who donates will be entered to win a Dunkin’ Donuts gift card,” he said. He’s also offering incentives like signed bike prints and social media shoutouts during the ride.
“I’d love to do something a little meaningful, a little ridiculous, and something super Boston,” he said, “together.”
Bigelow’s roommate is also joining the mission, and for every $30 he raises, he will cut off an inch from his jeans, continuing to wear them while riding the charity race.
“Someone very close to me was diagnosed with MS last year, and I wanted to turn something I love (riding bikes and doing ridiculous things) into something that can make a difference,” Bigelow writes on his fundraiser. “Every dollar raised will go toward research, support, and ultimately, a cure.”
Header images courtesy of Adam Bigelow and Dunkin'
