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Meet Louise Gerhart - A one-day Sunday PMC cyclist

Published Date:   May 30, 2013

Topic:   PMC News

Feeling frustrated that she cannot do more to directly help her husband, five-year breast cancer survivor Louise Gerhart, 65, of Acton, Mass., devotes her time to riding and volunteering for the Pan-Mass Challenge. 

In 2004, Reid Gerhart, then 57, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer that is treatable but not curable. Since then, he has undergone multiple treatments at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, including two stem cell transplants and two clinical trials. Gerhart is grateful to Dana-Farber’s research team for the extraordinary advances that have been made in the treatment of myeloma during the course of Reid’s illness.  

For the past four years, Gerhart has volunteered at the registration table in Wellesley where she enjoys seeing familiar faces and registering nervous first-time riders.  For the past two years, she also volunteered at the PMC Concord Kids Ride riding with the youngest group of participants. In addition, as a cancer survivor, she was selected to ride in front of 30,000 people at Fenway Park for PMC Day in 2012.  

Now, she is preparing to ride the one-day 47-mile Wellesley loop on Sunday, Aug. 4 in what will be her fifth PMC experience. She will ride as part of Patriots Platelet Peddlers, the largest PMC team of cyclists sponsored by the New England Patriots. What distinguishes this group of riders from most PMC teams is they not only donate their time and energy, but also their platelets. The money they raise goes to the work of Dr. Ken Anderson, whose research is made possible by the funds these PMC cyclists raise. To date, Gerhart has raised nearly $15,300 for the cause. 

The PMC is a fully supported bike-a-thon that runs through 46 towns across Massachusetts. Approximately 5,500 cyclists ride in the event. Cyclists choose from 11 routes of varying mileage designed to cater to all levels of cycling strength and fundraising ability. There are six two-day routes that range from 153 to 190 miles and five one-day rides that range from 25 to 110 miles.  

The PMC Wellesley loop is one of two available routes that accommodates riders who can only ride on Sunday or those looking for a shorter ride. Sig up now to ride alongside Gerhart, and the rest of the Patriot Platelet Peddlers on Sunday, Aug. 4.

Blog post courtesy of Teak Media + Communication

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