Former New England Patriots Player Joins 2nd Annual ‘Ride of Your Life’

GARDNER, Mass. - July 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Gardner, MA – The Suicide Prevention Task Force is pleased to announce that Pete Brock, former New England Patriots player, and will present "The Power of Setting Goals," a motivational program that provides a simple recipe for success, at the 2nd Annual ‘Ride of Your Life’ event.

Pete Brock became a mainstay for the Patriots, playing in 152 games and starting at every one of the offensive line positions as well as tight end. In 1978, he was part of a unit that led the way to the NFL single season rushing record which still stands today. Among the many accolades bestowed on Pete was being named to Patriots Football Weekly Patriots Team of the Century, the Patriots All Decade Team for the eighties, the Miller NFL Lineman of the Year, the University of Colorado Team of the Century and in 2009, being inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

In his post-football life, Pete has taken the unique lessons he learned from the perspective of an NFL offensive lineman on what it takes to win and applied them to business and everyday life. While still active with the Patriots as president of the New England Patriots Alumni Club, Pete has also excelled in the business world as an entrepreneur. From the trenches to boardroom, Pete Brock shares his unusual insights on how to succeed in today's competitive world.

Held on Sunday, August 24th, the ‘Ride of Your Life’ features a three hour motorcycle ride through North Central Massachusetts with stops at local motorcycle shops along the way. This year, a walk/run has been added to the day’s events.

Ride registration begins at 8 am at Monty Tech Regional Vocational Technical High School located at 1050 Westminster Street, Fitchburg, with kickstands up at 10 am. Registration for the walk/run begins at 11am with track times beginning at noon. Pete Brock will address the attendees at noon.

There is a $20 fee for motorcycle riders and a $15 fee for passengers, which includes lunch, maps, entertainment and on-route refreshments. Walkers and runners can register for $10, which also includes lunch and refreshments. A BBQ lunch will be held at 1 pm at Monty Tech and is open to the public.

The event will also feature door prizes, auctions, health clinics and information about the Task Force and suicide prevention initiatives.

This event is presented in partnership with Heywood Healthcare, Massachusetts Departments of Public and Mental Health, Montachusett Vocational Technical High School, Marquis Health Services, River Terrance Rehabilitation and Healthcare and Valley Stream Rehabilitation and Healthcare. Program sponsors include McLean Hospital and Gardner Rehab and Nursing Center. Ride sponsors include the QPR Institute and Fallon Health. Quabbin Valley Healthcare is the 2014 Community Sponsor.

Proceeds from the event will support a variety of suicide prevention initiatives. For more information, please visit www.heywood.org, www.ggsuicideprevention.org or call Barbara Nealon, Director of Social Service & Multicultural Services for Heywood Hospital, at 978-630-6386.

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About Heywood Healthcare
Heywood Healthcare is an independent, community-owned healthcare system located in the North Central region of Massachusetts. It is comprised of Heywood Hospital, a non-profit, 134-bed acute-care hospital in Gardner, MA; Athol Hospital, a 25 bed not-for-profit, Critical Access Hospital in Athol, MA; Heywood Medical Group with primary care physicians and specialists located throughout the region; and four satellite facilities -Winchendon Health Center and Murdock School-based Health Center in Winchendon, West River Health Center in Orange and Heywood Rehabilitation Center in Gardner.

About Athol Hospital
A member of the Heywood Healthcare system, Athol Hospital is a 25-bed non-profit, acute care and outpatient facility serving the communities of the North Quabbin region of Massachusetts. It is designated as a Critical Access Hospital and Primary Stroke Center, licensed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and accredited by the Joint Commission.

About Heywood Hospital
Part of the Heywood Healthcare system, Heywood Hospital is a 134-bed acute care hospital in Gardner, MA, which provides a broad range of high quality medical, surgical, obstetrical, pediatric and behavioral health services on an inpatient and outpatient basis. The hospital’s Centers of Excellence include the Watkins Center for Emergency and Acute Care; the Center for Behavioral Health; the LaChance Maternity Center; the Diabetes Center; and the Heywood Heart Center, an affiliate of the Heart and Vascular Center of Excellence at UMass Memorial Health Care.

About The Suicide Prevention Task Force
Established in 2013, the Suicide Prevention Task Force serves cities, towns and school districts in the Greater Gardner and North Quabbin Regions with the assistance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's Suicide Prevention Program. It strives to prevent suicide, and to provide education and resources to help those who struggle with depression, survivors of suicide, and those who have lost loved ones to suicide.

The Suicide Prevention Task Force is sponsored by Heywood Hospital and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Department of Public Health's Suicide Prevention Program.

About the New England Patriots Alumni Club
The New England Patriots Alumni Club’s mission is to provide an opportunity for former Patriot players to remain actively involved with each other, the Patriots organization, and the community by supporting and funding youth football throughout New England with programs that emphasize leadership, teamwork and achievement through lessons learned on the football field.  The New England Patriots Alumni Club, Inc. is recognized as a non-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Football for YOU is Patriots Alumni major community outreach.  The objective of Football for YOU is to introduce the game of football and all of its benefits to the youth of New England using Patriots Alumni as role models along with local coaches who represent the face of football in each community Football For YOU serves.

For additional information about Patriots Alumni, its programs and events, visit their website at www.patriotsalumni.com.