GREENFIELD — At Greenfield Community College, people biked, walked and ran Sunday morning as a way to help raise money for Baystate Franklin cancer services.
The 10th annual Wheeling for Healing brought more than 200 participants to the college, where there were different routes for riders and runners.
Kathy Tobin, interim leader of the Baystate Health Foundation, said the event has brought in about $40,000 this year and donations will continue to come in throughout the week ahead. Over the past 10 years, the race has raised more than $300,000 for the hospital’s cancer services with what the foundation is calling “A Decade of Difference.”
Tobin said previous funds have gone to a new family waiting area, easier to use infusion chairs and massage services for patients.
“Anything that helps the cancer patient’s journey and makes the battle a little bit easier,” she said.
This was the first year organizers set up pinwheel flowers and asked participants to write messages or memorials to those they know who have had cancer on the petals. All of the flowers were filled out and they will go in the Baystate Franklin Medical Center’s peace garden.
Tobin said they had concerns about the weather early on, and when organizers arrived early in the morning the area was very foggy. But the sun came up and the weather stayed cool and sunny throughout the race.
“I think most of the participants would tell you that it’s one of the best weather days in the history of the event,” she said.
Jim Bassett, a Baystate employee, raised the most money at $8,000, with his team named after his wife Sheryl who died from cancer.
Overall, Tobin said what makes this event so impactful is how involved the local community is every year.
“I think what’s really special about this is that local people in this community do this for their community hospital,” she said. “Everybody’s been touched one way or another by cancer.”
Reach Miranda Davis at
413-772-0261, ext. 280
or mdavis@recorder.com.