Summer in New England means it is PMC Season at Bay State Physical Therapy and across New England. We are proud to be the Official Physical Therapy Partner of the Pan-Mass Challenge for the fifth consecutive year. As a company whose mission includes empowering health and wellness, we are thrilled to have our own 2022 Bay State Physical Therapy PMC Riding Team in the saddle for another great season.
Ready to Ride
Our 2022 PMC Riding team consists of six amazing individuals, each with their own unique reason for participating. This year, Jenn McBride (Bay State Physical Therapy, Foxboro), Cara Gaziano (Bay State Physical Therapy, Weymouth), Lexi Windwer (Bay State Physical Therapy, Braintree), Erin Doherty (Bay State Corporate Resource Center), Sara Pesci (MVPT Marketing), and Jill Simon (Bay State Physical Therapy, Chelmsford) will saddle up to ride in honor and memory of friends, family, coworkers, and patients.
“Each year I’m in awe of our riding team. Not only do they commit to rigorous training to prepare for the PMC weekend, but they also set increasingly lofty fundraising goals,” says Steve Windwer, PT, DC, Founder and CEO of Bay State Physical Therapy. “Last year’s team weathered many challenges, including a very dangerous crash weeks before PMC weekend, which resulted in two riders requiring immediate surgery. But on PMC weekend, the entire team came together to support one another. I’m incredibly proud of them and our entire organization for their dedication and support of Dana-Farber and our role as the Official Physical Therapy Partner of the Pan-Mass Challenge. If you haven’t already contributed to our team’s fundraising campaign, I urge you to join me in supporting their efforts to shatter their $60,000 goal.”
Introducing Our Incredible PMC Partner
It’s hard to imagine how much strength is needed to endure and overcome cancer. It can be even harder to imagine how all that strength can fit into one small body! But our Pan-Mass Challenge Pedal Partner, Celia, makes it look easy.
Celia is four years old (but will be turning five very soon!) and currently a patient of our Bay State Physical Therapy Braintree clinic, treating with Lexi Windwer PT, DPT, who is also a member of our Bay State Physical Therapy PMC Riding Team. Celia was just three years old when she was diagnosed with High-Risk B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, back in October 2020.
Celia was diagnosed in Pakistan, and her treatment had quite a rocky start. During her induction phase, she received only 75% of the chemotherapy she needed because her doctors neglected to follow treatment protocol. Because of this, she came very close to relapsing— but was soon transferred to Dana Farber Cancer Institute where she immediately began treatment and was put on a high-risk protocol to reduce her risk of long-term relapse.
She’s now in her maintenance phase of treatments where she continues to receive chemotherapy, steroids, and lumbar procedures. Her treatment is set to be complete in March 2023!
Until then, she spends her time during longer-term hospital visits playing with her favorite toys, playing iPad games, and watching videos! To keep kicking cancer’s butt, she draws strength from her hero—her “Papa”— and embodies the tenacity of her favorite superhero—Gamora from Guardians of the Galaxy. We’re honored to have Celia as our Pedal Partner and look forward to cheering her on through the rest of her journey!
Pedal Partners are pediatric patients at the Jimmy Fund paired with PMC riders and teams. This program offers an incredible opportunity for those directly affected by cancer to connect with the riders raising funds for cancer research in their honor. It also provides unmatched inspiration to remind teams exactly what they’re pedaling for.
See What Inspires our Bay State Physical Therapy PMC Riding Team
ERIN DOHERTY, MARKETING MANAGER AT BAY STATE PHYSICAL THERAPY’S CORPORATE RESOURCE CENTER:
“I joined our BSPT Riding Team and chose to participate in PMC because I wanted to contribute to something bigger than myself. I wanted to raise money to help fund cancer research and show my support for all of those fighting the battle against cancer, as well as those who have lost their battles. This year I am so excited to be paired with our Pedal Partner, Celia Jan, to have an even bigger ‘WHY’ to ride.”
CARA GAZIANO, PT, DPT, PHYSICAL THERAPIST AT BAY STATE PHYSICAL THERAPY-WEYMOUTH:
“This will be my second official year riding the PMC. I ride for my sister Andrea, who lost her battle with Leukemia in 2006. My family and I have been very involved with the PMC since I can remember. My dad rode the PMC for years with his two brothers. My mom, my brother, and I volunteered for 10 years as well at the Family Finish in Provincetown. Every dollar I raise goes to the Andrea Gaziano Memorial Fund. This is a fund my parents set up in memory of my sister and the money goes directly to childhood cancer research to hopefully one day find a cure!”
JENN MCBRIDE, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, PHYSICAL THERAPIST AT BAY STATE PHYSICAL THERAPY-FOXBORO:
“This will be my third year riding in the PMC. I initially got involved as a volunteer in my last year of college and never thought I’d be the one riding a road bike, but it’s been an incredible experience and I’m looking forward to the energy and camaraderie PMC weekend brings every year. I’m riding in memory of my grandfather, Jack Shea, as well as one of my favorite PT professors, Dr. Mary Hickey who passed away last year after a courageous battle with breast cancer. I’m also riding in support of the countless family members, friends, and patients who I know whose lives have also been touched by cancer.”
SARA PESCI, PHYSICIAN LIAISON AT MVPT PHYSICAL THERAPY
“The PMC is such a great cause, with 100% of all rider-raised funds going towards cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber. Like many others, I have family members and friends who have been impacted by cancer. Some, unfortunately, lost their battle, and others are survivors. I’m riding for all of them—those who have lost their battles, those who are survivors, and those who are currently in the fight for their lives!”
JILL SIMON, PT, DPT, PHYSICAL THERAPIST AT BAY STATE PHYSICAL THERAPY-CHELMSFORD
“I am so excited to participate in my first PMC with the Bay State Physical Therapy Team! I ride in honor of family, friends, and former and current patients who have fought or are currently fighting cancer. Cancer never stops, so I am very proud to support a cause that goes directly to cancer research and finding a cure!”
LEXI WINDWER, PT, DPT, MANAGING PARTNER AT BAY STATE PHYSICAL THERAPY-BRAINTREE
“This will be my third PMC ride. Last year our team rode a total of 175 miles over 2 days allowing us to participate in both a reimagined ride and a PMC-organized event. During that weekend we were supported by friends, family, coworkers, riders, and volunteers along the route! I’m excited to see what this year brings. I ride for the individuals we’ve lost to cancer and those who are still fighting. This year we have partnered with a pedal partner, Celia Jan, who is actively receiving treatment through the Jimmy Fund. What keeps me riding is thinking about how the money I’m raising could be what funds the research that finds the cure!”
Help Support Our Riding Team and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
The Pan-Mass Challenge raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country, contributing its funds to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world leader in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research. 100% of all rider-raised funds go directly to cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber and the Jimmy Fund, and since 1980, the PMC has raised $831 million for Dana-Farber.
Join the fight for cancer and support our Bay State Physical Therapy PMC Riding Team’s fundraising efforts by donating if you are able.
