(l to r) Tom Lynch, Julie Feely, Patty Calderon, Peter Racicot, Kevin Dowd, Sean Connolly and Chris Grazioso at PMC.

Additional volunteers, riders and donations by Fallon Ambulance Service personnel amounted to a record level of involvement and funds raised for the Jimmy Fund in this year’s Pan Mass Challenge competition to benefit cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The bike team included Fallon Ambulance’s Peter Racicot of Weymouth, Dorchester resident Kevin Dowd, Holbrook resident Kevin Mont and Tom Lynch of Dorchester who completed the 192-mile bike trip from Sturbridge to Provincetown.

Many employees of Fallon Ambulance, along with family and friends volunteered along the route and helped to raise more than $25,000 for the cause. Fallon Ambulance Service donated four staffed ambulances and supplies for both Saturday and Sunday of the event. The employees who volunteered for the event included Matt Rosen, Mark Williams, Patty Calderon, Julie Feely, Leslie Parham, John Haskell, Sean Connolly, Nate Avorn, Linda Knight and Chris Grazioso. Former Fallon employees who volunteered included Pete Yates, Nora Reilly and Tim Sheehan. For Fallon Paramedics Patty Calderon and Julie Feely and EMT John Haskell it was their first involvement with the PMC and they were so moved by the event that they donated their weekend paychecks to the cause.

“We are very proud of how our company’s involvement has grown each year,” said Racicot, riding in memory of his father, Ray Fallon, who was president of Fallon Ambulance and died in 2002 after a long battle with lung cancer. “Everyone has been touched in some way by this disease and it is rewarding to see the excitement generated by people helping in any way they can. Our staff members who worked behind the scenes and contributed what time and effort they could to participate help to make this a rewarding event.”

Four Fallon personnel each bicycled the 192 miles from Sturbridge to Provincetown, representing the three-generation, family-owned, independent ambulance company. In addition to the cycling efforts, Fallon Ambulance Service provided 10 volunteers and donated four ambulances for the Saturday and Sunday event. The race took two days, and more than 2,500 riders participated in the event.

“I’m really delighted that we were able to pull together as a company and raise substantial funds for this worthwhile cause,” said Racicot, who has participated in the race for the past twelve years. “Every year we raise the bar a little higher and we have been able to reach our goal. We plan to continue our increased efforts next year as well.

Fallon Ambulance has always taken great pride in playing an important role in our community. And with five new contracts, that role is certain to remain a prominent one for years to come.

In recent months, Fallon has been awarded new contracts with the towns of Braintree, Brookline, Dedham, Quincy, and Fallon’s hometown of Milton. Fallon Ambulance has been contracted by the towns of Braintree, Brookline and Dedham since 1998, Quincy since 1997, and Milton since 1991. So these communities were very familiar with everything the family-operated ambulance service has to offer.

Under the new contracts, Fallon Ambulance will continue to be responsible for all 911 responses for the five towns, providing 24-hour Advanced Life Support (ALS) paramedic service, and work closely with the towns’ Police and Fire departments and hospitals.

According to Milton Town Administrator, “Fallon gets the highest marks from all the communities they serve. Being their hometown, we are likely to be the best judge of their business character, and we are highly satisfied with the service they offer. They have always given the community additional benefits with their contract; in fact, this year their services are increasing at no cost to the community. There was no need to entertain the idea of another service for our town.”

“They are unequalled,” exclaimed Brookline Town Administrator, Richard Kelleher. “Their response time and quality service has secured their positioning in our town. In addition, the defibrillator program and in-service training for public safety personnel would be lacking without their persistent attention and dedication. Brookline’s vote of confidence is with Fallon.”

The ambulance service of champions

Fallon Ambulance has also been awarded a contract to provide emergency ambulance services for Gillette Stadium, the Foxborough home of the NFL Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots and the MLS New England Revolution Soccer Team.

“Gillette Stadium was designed and built with the safety and comfort of their patrons as the main objective,” said Peter Racicot, Fallon’s Senior Vice President of Business Development. “Crowds of this size present a unique challenge and we are pleased to work with the stadium management to offer assistance if we are ever needed.”

Fallon has been on hand throughout past seasons. When the mercury dropped perilously low last winter as the Patriots prepared to clinch the AFC title, extra precautions were taken to protect both players and fans.

Fallon Ambulance looks forward to another championship season!