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.”
Extra Inspiration in 2022
In 2021, our BSPT riding team completed a hybrid ride, consisting of a 75-mile reimagined ride on Saturday, August 7th, and participated in the PMC Wellesley century ride on Sunday, August 8th, totaling 175 miles for the weekend and raising $58,434, just shy of our $60,000 goal. This year our team has committed to riding PMC’s 50-mile Wellesley route and has set our sights on that same fundraising goal of $60,000!
This year we have special motivation for our ride and fundraising with the match of our PMC Pedal Partner. The Pedal Partner Program offers an inspiring opportunity for pediatric oncology patients at Dana-Farber to connect with PMC riders cycling and raising funds for cancer research and treatment in their honor. Our Pedal Partner is Celia Jan, a very sweet and active 4-year-old who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in October 2020. Celia is very special to our team as she is currently receiving physical therapy treatment in our Braintree office by our team’s very own Lexi Windwer, PT, DPT.
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.
If you’d like to support our Bay State Physical Therapy PMC Riding Team in their fundraising goal, please CLICK HERE!
Tags: PMC, Cancer Research, dana farber cancer center, cycling, biking
