Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia
Patrick Sweeney is an avid cyclist and has been a member of the PCAS Chester County Cycling program for several years. He has competed in several races each year, including numerous triathlons.
This year, the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia (BCOP) invited Patrick to write a series of articles on adaptive cycling. The invitation came from one of Patrick’s racing partners, Ed Chang, requesting him to share his personal experiences and training tips for adaptive cycling and racing, to raise awareness of adaptive cycling, and to create opportunities for adaptive athletes to participate in races or triathlons.
The BCOP five-part series includes a short bio, plus information on training, safety, how to prepare, and what to expect on race day.
The editor of the BCOP website wrote, “The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia is honored to host a new series of articles on our blog about adaptive cycling, written by local cyclist Patrick Sweeney. As a differently-abled person, Sweeney has found freedom on his bicycle and has used that freedom to become an athlete.”
Patrick encourages others to try cycling and recommends that they start off small to find a comfortable level of participation, “then keep on going and don’t stop!”
Thank you Patrick for this educational series!
(Contributor: Andrea Pampaloni)
PCAS PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Lynn McGillin
Every organization has a core of heroes who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make things happen, get things done, and advance the work of the organization.
We are proud to recognize the extraordinary work of our own Lynn McGillin, a PCAS volunteer and leader, member of the PCAS Board of Directors, and yes, hero.
As a University City native, Lynn grew up in a family of rowers; her father, two uncles, and brother Frank were all competitive rowers. And in 1977, Lynn became the latest member of the McGillin family to take up the sport, joining Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club on Boathouse Row.
After working in acute care and home healthcare, Lynn began working at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital as a floor nurse, ultimately advancing to become Magee's Chief Nursing Officer. In 1981, one of her patients told her about a newly forming adaptive rowing program. It seemed a perfect fit for her, so Lynn joined that same week.
Over her 39 years as a board member, volunteer, rower, instructor, and rowing coach with PAR, Lynn has taken on every challenge as her own. Her accomplishments and ongoing contributions are many:
Continual recruitment of athletes, volunteers and supporters.
Organizes and provides the annual volunteer training for the rowing program.
Initiated and volunteers with the Membership Activity Committee (MAC) that plans many of our parties and special events.
Key contributor in 1999-2000 meetings with adaptive rowing organizations from several nations laying the ground work to add adapted rowing into the Paralympic games.
Presented our adaptive rowing classification system to FISA and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) in Rotterdam in 1999.
Created and chairs the PCAS Communications Committee.
Led volunteer management for the 2019 Cinco de Mayo fundraiser.
Helped establish guidelines for operating during the pandemic.
Led the Tuesday Night Crew from PAR in the Virtual 5.0 fundraiser.
Instrumental in developing Strategic Planning Board initiatives to ensure the sustainability of PCAS.
During the pandemic, Lynn inspired the creation of our virtual rowing program, helping to identify participants, matching them with available ERGs, and launching the Zoom sessions each week to ensure access by all rowers.
Lynn (top right) with a few PCAS friends at the WAWA Hero Award Ceremony July 4th 2019
As an inspirational speaker with a very big heart, Lynn is also the annual presenter of the Leo Reilly Award, our highest honor, given to the athlete who embodies the spirit of joy and perseverance in the face of tremendous odds.
Throughout her professional and personal life, Lynn invites everyone she meets to row, and encourages volunteerism. Her efforts have earned her acclaim, receiving the Caring Hands Award from Siemens in 2009, the Fellowship Award from the Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association in 2011, and the Daisy Award, nominated by Cerner who cited her clinical skills and compassion in Nursing and the community in 2020.
She cites the value of inclusion that permeates PCAS as one of the things that keeps her engaged, noting that the people she connects with through her volunteer work “have the biggest hearts.”
When it comes to PCAS Lynn is all heart, and dedicated action. She is an inspiration for the rest of us, by her example, generosity of her time, leadership, experience, and friendship. Hats off to a true PCAS hero, Lynn McGillin!
(Contributors: Meg Jones and Jack Campbell)
