Meet Helen Montie - A former PMC Pedal Partner turned PMC cyclist

As an eighth grader, Helen Montie’s focus went from playing soccer and making good grades to undergoing more than two years of chemotherapy at the Jimmy Fund Clinic for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. 

During that time, the Lincoln, Mass. resident sought comfort from Team Montie Pythons, a group of more than 20 PMC cyclists who developed a relationship with the Montie family through the Pan-Mass Challenge Pedal Partner Program and rode in the event in Helen’s honor. Now, as a 16-year-old high school junior, Helen is a cancer survivor who will ride this August as part of Team Montie Pythons in honor of the group’s new Pedal Partner. Helen will share her story at the PMC Pedal Partner kick-off party, which will take place this Sunday at Fenway Park. 

The PMC Pedal Partner program, now in its 13th year, matches Jimmy Fund Clinic patients with PMC cyclists who will ride the August event in their honor. For the children, being a designated Pedal Partner is an exciting experience, as they become part of a large group of people committed to helping fight cancer. PMC cyclists offer friendship and support to the children and their families while gaining personal inspiration to train and fundraise.  

Many of Helen’s family friends have participated in the PMC. It never dawned on the Monties that they would be the beneficiaries of one of the PMC’s programs. Helen credits the PMC Pedal Partner program for giving her the added support and love that she needed throughout her treatments. Now, she is determined to pay it forward and ride the 47-mile Wellesley loop in an effort continue her crusade against cancer.  

“Even though I am done with treatments, this doesn’t mean I have stopped fighting cancer,” says Montie. “Being part of the PMC and its Pedal Partner program is a way to continue fighting cancer even if you are in remission. No one is going to give up on the Pedal Partners.”  

To learn more about the PMC Pedal Partner program, visit http://pmc.org/ride/pedal-partners. Interested in becoming a PMC cyclist or volunteer? Visit, www.pmc.org or call 800-WE-CYCLE.

Helen Montie, 16, a former PMC Pedal Partner and cancer survivor, is gearing up to share her story at the PMC Pedal Partner program kick-off party this Sunday at Fenway Park.

Blog post courtesy of Teak Media + Communication