PVDA Ride for Life Management Team

Pat Artimovich

Founder & Visionary, Sponsors

Pat has pursued a professional career in contract management for Northrop Grumman and most recently at Universities Space Research Association. With a degree in law from Duquesne University , she brings with her an artful knowledge of the “right way to do things”.

Pat is a breast cancer survivor. ‘I was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer (Stage IIB) in 1999 and as I had two middle school age children then it was not a good situation to be in. I had my treatment at Hopkins – 3 surgeries, 6 months of chemo and then radiation. The things that helped me through this were family and friends, my faith and the hope that I would survive and ride again – specifically dressage, which I had never done and found so beautiful. ‘

About 8 years ago Pat had the vision to “give back” to Hopkins and the community through this sport that means so much to her. In 2009, amidst a lot of volunteering, Pat had the special privilege to ride in the weekend dressage show.

Michele Wellman

Ride for Life and Dancing Horse Challenge Chair for 2011

Michele is a full time program manager for Northrop Grumman Corporation; a job that supports her horse habit. She also co-owns and manages with her mother, Charlene Cherry, By Chance Farm LLC, a horse boarding and training facility. Based in Union Bridge, Maryland, Michele works at NGC during the day, at the farm in the evening and devotes her spare time to PVDA as Board Chairperson, Dancing Horse Challenge Chair and Ride for Life Co-Chair. Inspired by the strength of her grandmother who has battled breast cancer for many years; Michele plunged head long into the Ride for Life event last year and hasn’t looked back. In 2011, she hopes to help PVDA reach the $100,000 donation mark for John’s Hopkins which will be used to improve the quality of life of survivors like her grandmother.

Carolyn DelGrosso

Treasurer

Carolyn has earned a Masters degree in Finance and works for the Equiery as their bookkeeper. An accomplished equestrian with USDF bronze, silver and gold medals, she trains horses and teaches lessons in dressage. Carolyn has been involved as a demo rider, competitor, manager, rider coordinator and secretary for the Ride for Life since its very beginning. ‘I got involved after Pat made a pitch to PVDA.’ This hit home because her grandmother had a breast cancer scare many years ago and Carolyn has had many friends with the disease!

Jeannette Bair

Corporate Sponsors & Gala

Jeannette worked professionally for Westinghouse (now Northrop Grumman) as hiring manager and then as Executive Director responsible for developing new business opportunities and finally for Prometric, working with clients such as Microsoft and the FAA. Today, in retirement, she enjoys riding and training her dressage horses.

Her connection with breast cancer is deep with both maternal and paternal sides of the family being afflicted. “My younger sister had breast cancer two years ago and after a year of chemo treatment is currently cancer free. And I lost a very close friend, Bari von Beudingen many years ago to misdiagnosed breast cancer. Bari taught me much about dressage, breeding horses and about having profound courage in difficult times. ’’ Jeannette has gotten involved with the Ride for Life through her friendship with Pat Artimovich and admires Pat’s courage and determination to bring light into the lives of those affected. Jeannette has ridden as well as volunteering at the Ride for Life for five out of the 7 years of its existence and has been High Pledge Amateur for 4 out of 5 of those years. She will ride again this year.

Betty Thorpe

President, PVDA

Betty is president of Suburban Air Conditioning where she works with national accounts. Her connection with breast cancer runs deep. Within her family, both a niece and a cousin were diagnosed with the disease and have survived. Then breast hit more personally in 2009, when she was diagnosed with the disease and had a mastectomy. As a survivor she comments, “I have also have friends who have had breast cancer. I find that there are high profile fund raisers for cancer research, but I love the Johns Hopkins support of women with breast cancer. It’s much more personal.”

Betty has ridden in the Ride for Life for three years and has written about the Ride in the PVDA newsletter since its inception. Betty intends to ride again this year for the cause!

Shari Glickman

Silent Auction

Shari Glickman was the show manager for the first Ride for Life show held in 2004 and has enjoyed her involvement in the fund raising efforts of the PVDA Ride for Life since. Shari has chaired the Silent Auction each year and has also ridden her mare in the show. Like many of the competitors and volunteers, Shari has had a number of friends diagnosed and treated for breast cancer- many of whom she met as a direct result of her association with horses and through the Ride for Life Show participation.

Just recently, Shari’s relationship with the PVDA Ride for Life became all the more poignant when her sister was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her sister lives locally and is currently being treated at a hospital affiliated with Johns Hopkins. Shari feels especially comforted that the Ride for Life’s fundraising efforts all these years has paved the way her sister’s recovery.

Lillie Shockney

Director, Johns Hopkins Avon Foundation Breast Center
R.N., B.S., M.A.S.
Administrative Director, Depts. of Surgery, Gynecology and Obstetrics
Associate Professor, JHU School of Nursing

Lillie has been recognized as a pioneer in the field of breast cancer advocacy and clinical quality care. She is an oncology nurse but also a two time survivor of this disease. She considers it a privilege to “be there” to support women newly diagnosed with breast cancer and in need of comfort, support, and education. Patient empowerment has been one of her mantras. Lillie receives more than 200 emails a day from women around the world seeking help due to being newly diagnosed with the disease or frightened about an upcoming diagnosis.

In 2008, the Johns Hopkins University Board of Trustees and Medical Board made a decision to appoint her to a physician chair as a distinguished service assistant professor of breast cancer. In 2010 she was promoted to Associate Professor in the School of Medicine’s Depts. of Surgery and Gynecology. She has worked at Johns Hopkins for 28 years and served as the director of the breast center for the last 14. During this time she has received a total of 38 awards for her work in breast cancer-34 national awards and 4 state awards. Last year she was inducted into the Maryland Women Hall of Fame. She strives to minimize the physical and emotional trauma associated with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.

Lillie found that association with horses can have a profound impact on one’s life. She recounts that, “My dad courted my mom on horseback, riding 16 miles to see her…. They married at 18. They are now both 83. So horses have a special meaning to me. They provided my parents a way to see each other that otherwise would never have made it possible for them to court, marry, and eventually have me! “