Pictured (L-R) are Keisha Bailey-Garcia, Development Director, AHA, Jennifer Litchman-Green, Senior Executive Director, AHA, Mike Smith, Division President, Marquis Health Consulting Services, Caroline Goggin, 6ABC reporter and CycleNation Philadelphia emcee, and Jennifer Hertzog, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Mid-Atlantic, Marquis Health Consulting Services. Photo credit: Marquis Health Consulting Services

The stationary bikes at Fountain View at Logan Square/Logan Square Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center in Philadelphia got some good use recently when skilled nursing provider Marquis Health Consulting Services hosted a CycleNation bike ride in partnership with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association (AHA/ASA). 

“Last year, we hosted CycleNation and became aware of it,” said Mike Smith, division president at Marquis Health Consulting Services, as well as the chairman of the CycleNation event. “People had fun with it, it was great. All the communities got involved, I had an absolute blast raising money for the [AHA/ASA].”

Participants embark on their “ride.” Photo credit: Marquis Health Consulting Services
The Phillie Phanatic, mascot for the Philadelphia Phillies, made an appearance. Photo credit: Marquis Health Consulting Services

However, this was no ordinary bike ride. With the Phillie Phanatic in attendance, more than 100 riders came to Fountain View from Marquis partner communities across the area and became the first group to raise more than $100,000 in a CycleNation event. The final tally actually rose beyond $200,000. Yet, while the communities were competitive with each other, they were ultimately motivated by a single shared goal. 

“I think what it says is we’re really mission-driven and that’s something our partners and our facilities really understand,” said Smith. “We talk about why we do what we do before and we all jumped into this and got very competitive but also really needed the centers to support each other.”

While the setup was no easy task, lots of Marquis and Fountain View staff members chipped in to pick up the slack. For example, Esteban Morales, dining services director at Fountain View at Logan Square, made sure that the riders had some home cooking to help energize them on the ride. 

“I was going to outsource it so he didn’t have to work so hard,” said Smith. “That was the only time he’s ever gotten upset. He said, ‘Absolutely not! You’re insulting me, I will do all the food.’” 

After another successful fundraising year, the collaboration with the AHA/ASA will continue next year with higher expectations. It might be hard to beat $200,000 but it’s a challenge Smith will happily accept. 

“Heart disease continues to be the number one killer in the country,” said Smith. “What I found is that we share the exact same mission as [the AHA]. That’s taking great care of human beings to prevent heart disease and then ultimately, it is [creating] freedom and making it better when it does happen.”