Tour de Clinic cruises to a successful finish
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Press release
10/13/2011 –
Matt Lechner
For nearly three decades, David Abelson has preferred pushing pedals rather than stepping on the gas. An avid cyclist, the Park Nicollet CEO put his pedal power to good use last week, spending three days and riding on his bike nearly 200 miles to raise more than $55,475 for Park Nicollet Foundation’s Annual Campaign.
The ‘Tour de Clinic’ also served as an opportunity for Dr. Abelson to say thank you to team members throughout Park Nicollet and to raise awareness about the important work of our Foundation and the crucial role team members play in supporting each other and the community.
The journey, the mission
The metro-wide journey took Dr. Abelson and a team of cyclists to 21 Park Nicollet patient care locations and ended back at Methodist Hospital. At each stop, Dr. Abelson and the cyclists were greeted with cheers, enthusiasm and generous donations made by team members.
“It was so gratifying to see such pride in Park Nicollet at every site,” said Dr. Abelson. “The work of our Foundation means a great deal to me, especially ‘Caring for Colleagues’ and our school-based community clinics.”
The inspiration
The uniqueness of the ‘Tour de Clinic’ was matched only by the inspiration encountered along the way. In Golden Valley, Dr. Abelson and other cyclists were met by one of our Parkinson’s patients along with Martha Nance, MD. The group rode into the parking lot of Struthers Parkinson’s Center where they were serenaded with a song written by Struthers’ patients that encouraged the group to keep going no matter how hard the challenge.
The three day tour produced many memorable moments. From homemade signs drawn with exquisite detail to the NASCAR-style pit stop at Prior Lake Clinic, the cyclists rode with the sun and through the rain and pressed on to the Plymouth, Shorewood and Minneapolis clinics where 100 percent of all team members donated money to Park Nicollet Foundation’s Annual Campaign
“Each clinic we visited had a different way of greeting us, but all team members at every site swelled with pride of their work at Park Nicollet,” said Abelson. “It was gratifying to see.”
Our Foundation, our purpose
100 percent of Annual Campaign donations go directly to helping create better and healthier lives for those served through Park Nicollet, community clinics and community organizations. Nearly one-third of donations go to community programs in our service areas via grants. Two-thirds of donations support Park Nicollet programs which provide service to patient, family, team member and community programs.
“It is a privilege to be with team members rallying around a common cause,” said Christa Getchell, President, Park Nicollet Foundation. “We are appreciative to the hundreds of team members who came together to make a difference. Together, we are changing lives.”
In 2010, Park Nicollet Foundation gave over $3 million in grants to more than 100 programs serving Park Nicollet patient and families, community clinics and community organizations. With the support from our patients, families, staff, donors and community partners our Park Nicollet Foundation responds to community needs and ensures access and resources to those in need.
View photos from the Tour de Clinic.