Cycling event

The Pat Summitt Foundation and Pat Summitt Clinic Named Beneficiary of the 12-Day Event in Memory of Pat Summitt

Pedal for Alzheimer’s announces the Pedal for Pat, 1,098-mile, 12-day charity cycling event is set for September 11-22, 2023. The event will feature a tour of the south’s finest universities, beginning in Knoxville at the University of Tennessee. The team of 12 Summitt Cyclists will pedal into several universities along the route while gaining support from SEC schools, the SEC Network offices in Birmingham, and others. 

Six years after the inaugural Pedal for Pat event, founder Josh Crisp teamed up with organization alumni and Lady Vol MVP Michelle Marciniak to bring back the event. 

“I’m super excited to bring back the Pedal for Pat event because this was the foundational event that paved the way for Pedal for Alzheimer’s,” Josh Crisp, Founder and Board President said. “I think if Coach Summitt was with us, she would be extremely proud of what the huge and growing team of volunteers has worked on to honor her legacy. Pat always said ‘you win with people’ and I’m honored to witness the growing team of supporters that have joined the fight against Alzheimer’s in honor of her. We are happy to continue to support the great work of The Pat Summitt Foundation and The Pat Summitt Clinic.”

In the first Pedal for Pat event in 2017, the 1,098-mile bike ride raised over $100,000 for the Pat Summitt Foundation in honor of late-legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt’s 1,098 career NCAA wins. That event became the 501c3 non-profit Pedal for Alzheimer’s, Ltd. which serves as the umbrella organization that creates and manages charity cycling events to benefit organizations that are involved in Alzheimer’s research, education, support and care. 

Hall of famer and Lady Vol MVP alumni, Michelle Marciniak, witnessed her beloved college basketball coach, Pat Summitt, die at age 62, diagnosed with ‘early onset’ at age 57. When Pat was diagnosed, Michelle began to carry the torch for Alzheimer’s awareness in her honor and became part of the Pedal for Alzheimer’s organization.

“Everyone’s family either has been or will be touched by this awful disease,” Michelle Marciniak said. “As a former point guard for Pat, I feel it is my calling to shed the brightest of lights on Pat’s legacy to help people understand why one courageous woman’s fight can be the reason for a cure. I am thrilled and personally motivated to join Josh, the Pat Summitt Foundation and the Pat Summitt Clinic in this year’s Pedal for Pat ride.”

Funds from this year’s Pedal for Pat will benefit the Pat Summitt Foundation and the Pat Summitt Clinic.

The Pedal for Pat event will be officially announced at the Lady Vols vs. Florida “We Back Pat” game on January 19, 2023 at Thompson Boling Arena. Media is invited.

Game: We Back Pat – Lady Vols vs. Univ. of Florida
Location: Thompson Boling Arena
Date: Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023
Tip off: 6:30PM

Title sponsors of the event are Solinity Marketing and SHEEX. For interested cyclists, volunteers and sponsors, contact Pedal for Alzheimer’s at pedalforalzheimers.org.