Lawyers team up to raise money for Dana-Farber

Date: 11/28/2012

SPRINGFIELD – The husband and wife team of Gary Fentin, Partner of Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C., and Susan G. Fentin, Partner for Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., announced on Nov. 16 that they had joined forces and raised more than $20,000 for the 33rd Annual Pan-Mass Challenge benefitting cancer research and treatment at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

The 2012 Pan-Mass Challenge (PMC) raised $37 million dollars. The 2012 fundraising total is $2 million more than the PMC gave in 2011 and brings its 33-year Jimmy Fund contribution to $375 million.

On a hot and humid Aug. 4, the couple set out on their tandem bike in Wellesley, to embark on their two day, 165 mile round trip journey, to Bourne and back. They joined more than 5,000 other bikers and are proud to say they maintained a strong and steady push throughout their ride.

"It was incredible to be part of such a massive effort for such a wonderful cause," Gary and Susan said. "We witnessed thousands of riders, some of whom wore buttons saying 'I'm living proof.' We saw thousands of volunteers and crowds of supporters lining the route with water or hoses to spray us with, cheering us with applause, bells and bagpipes, or calls or signs that read 'Thank you for riding.'"

This year was the tenth year in which Gary Fentin has ridden in the grueling Pan-Mass Challenge to benefit cancer research. Gary is an avid cyclist and this ride was a way for him to channel his passion to help others. Susan, however, is not a cyclist, but the husband-wife team committed to this event to support their friends, family members, and colleagues who struggle with this devastating illness.

Susan and Gary say their ride was not easy, given the heat and the rolling topography of the state of Massachusetts, but with countless words and notes of inspiration, the couple completed their ride, achieved their money raising goal, and even remain happily married.

"It was an amazing, emotional experience," Gary said. "The generous contributions of our sponsors will go a long way towards helping to find a cure. We are grateful for the support we received from our friends, relatives, and clients."

Gary Fentin concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and real estate finance and development, industrial revenue bonds, affordable housing, estate planning, business law, and business workouts. He manages the firm's tax-exempt bond practice and has acted as bond counsel and/or purchaser's counsel in hundreds of such issues since 1978.

Susan Fentin concentrates her practice in the representation of employers in employment matters, including employment litigation in all courts and before administrative agencies; employment counseling, policy review and training; and a wide range of other areas of the law related to labor and employment matters.