Bruce Springsteen delivered a prerecorded message and an acoustic performance of “Born to Run” for the Pan-Mass Challenge on Friday night, according to Rolling Stone. The annual ride raises money for cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Massachusetts.
In the video, Springsteen thanked organizers and praised the community built around the event. He said the ride has shown that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference, adding that countless lives have been saved because of that effort.
Springsteen also spoke personally about the cause, noting that his wife, Patti Scialfa, is being treated at Dana-Farber for multiple myeloma. He said she has lived with the disease for more than eight years and is now in remission.
The musician said his wife’s experience taught him that medical research is essential to giving families hope. He went on to say that the world needs more everyday heroes like the people involved in the Pan-Mass Challenge before launching into an acoustic version of “Born to Run.”
Scialfa revealed her diagnosis in the 2024 documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. In the film, she said the illness affected her immune system and made touring and live performances more difficult.
