On Father’s Day, father-son cyclists threw out ceremonial first pitches & cyclists who are cancer survivors honored
On Sunday, June 15, PMC Day at Fenway Park celebrated the 35th annual PMC and the Red Sox Foundation’s 12th year as the event’s presenting sponsor.
Vincent Manning, and his son, Jack, 16, both of Norfolk, threw out the ceremonial first pitches. Jack is a cancer survivor, amputee, and first-time PMC cyclist. In 2006, he was successfully treated for osteosarcoma at the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Since then, Jack has been able to continue playing baseball, and many other sports, despite his cancer and the prosthetic he wears on his left leg. This August, the father-son duo will ride alongside each other in what will mark Vincent’s fifth PMC ride in honor of his son. On Father’s Day, the opportunity was especially meaningful for them.
“It was a very special day that our family will always remember,” says Vincent Manning. “We are so proud to be part of such a great organization.”
Jack Manning, 16, and his father, Vincent, threw out the ceremonial first pitches
During a pre-game ceremony, Billy Starr, PMC founder and executive director, and Larry Lucchino, president and CEO of the Red Sox, spoke about the meaning behind PMC Day at Fenway Park and posed for photos with Stacey Lucchino, a 13-year PMC cyclist and Red Sox Team 9 captain.
PMC Founder Billy Starr and Red Sox President Larry Lucchino
As baseball fans and PMC supporters took to their seats, short videos highlighting the annual bike-a-thon played on the JumboTron. Cancer survivors, who are PMC cyclists from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Florida, posed for photos and rode around the warning track, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. PMC volunteers proudly stood in front of the Green Monster to catch the falling American flag that unveiled the PMC logo.
PMC cyclists ride along the warning track
PMC logo unveiled on the Green Monster
Following the survivor parade, Andrew Garland, a professional opera singer and 17-time PMC cyclist whose father is being treated for cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, sang the national anthem.
Andrew Garland sings the national anthem at the start of the game
With the help of Wally the Green Monster, and Wally’s father who came to the park with them, Grafton brothers Aedan, 11, and Jake Mayerhauser, 8, served as bat boys. The brothers recently participated in a PMC Kids Ride in memory of their mother, Malini Mayerhauser, who last summer lost her battle with brain cancer.
Aedan, 11, and Jake Mayerhauser, 8
John Hancock's PMC Pedal Partner and Jimmy Fund Clinic patient, Katelyn Pinter, 8, of Weare, N.H., shouted, “Play ball!”
Katelyn, Pinter, 8, of Weare, N.H., practices shouting “play ball” with Larry Lucchino
In the bottom of the 2nd inning, three Little Stars, Dan Salon, and his siblings, Jane and Ethan, announced Red Sox players as they went up to bat. Dan rode in the Hingham PMC Kids Ride and is currently the highest PMC Kids Ride fundraiser at $4,234. His mother is currently being treated for cancer at Dana-Farber.
Dan Salon, Little Star
Billy Starr with WEEI’s Joe Castiglione
In the middle of the seventh inning, Madeleine Smith, 20, of Wellesley, a three-time PMC cyclist, and eight-time volunteer, sang God Bless America. Before she rode in the adult PMC, with the help of her parents who are PMC veterans, Smith started the Wellesley-Weston PMC Kids Ride in 2006 when she was 11 years old.
Madeleine Smith, 20, of Wellesley, sings God Bless America
Although the Red Sox lost to the Cleveland Indians in extra innings, with a final score of 2 to 3, PMC Day at Fenway Park was a win for the record books.
Check out the PMC Day at Fenway photo gallery here, the John Hancock PMC Pedal Partner Party photos here and the great Bree Sison story that aired on PMC's official media partner WBZ-TV here.
Photo credit to Drea Catalano of 13 Photography, John Borzain & Lily Cyr.
Post courtesy of Allison from Teak Media + Communication
