Meet the Team
The amazing people behind Team Bernard!
Michelle McCann and Todd Geary are proud to be Bernard’s friends. They are also his main Physical Therapy team; Michelle is his Physical Therapist and Todd Geary is Bernard’s Physical Therapist Assistant. Michelle and Todd have planned, prayed, fundraised, and ran alongside Bernard in all his races in 2023--racing together over 80 miles. They also have grown the team to 25 other individuals, mostly therapists, that have trained to run with Team Bernard over the last year.
Michelle McCann & Todd Geary
Directors
Michelle McCann
Michelle was born with a passion for running and has run all her life. Michelle is a mother of two and a full-time Physical Therapist. She always felt it was important to be a role model for her children. For them to see their mother work hard, train hard and set BIG goals. It has always been her lifelong dream to run the Boston Marathon.
Michelle's running story and training history is a complicated one. Michelle had numerous injuries, surgeries, and setbacks. At age 30, she lost her right kidney and nearly did not live through an aggressive infection that followed. After a long recovery, she was able to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2015! Then suffered a femur fracture that required hip surgery and was therefore not able to participate in the Boston Marathon after all.
At this point in 2020 Michelle began to pray to God to “take my running dreams back!” It was defeating to train and fail, year after year after year. But Michelle would always follow this prayer up with one other. Michelle would pray, “If I am ever able to run again, God, let it be for your glory not mine!” For two years, over and over, Michelle would pray, “Take my personal running dreams back! I don’t want them anymore! But if YOU want me to run, God, let it be for your glory and not mine!” Then, Michelle learned of Bernard’s dream of running 10,000 miles in Heaven.
Michelle's reflection, "God knew my passion for running because He formed my heart. He also knew that my failures would end up producing something more amazing than I had ever dreamed! It is my absolute privilege to run with Bernard. I now dream of running beside Bernard one day, out of his powerchair and on the streets paved of gold!"
Hoyt Racing Chair and The Brent Ransom Family
The Hoyt Racing Chair has been generously loaned to our team by the Ransom family. This has been essential in allowing Team Bernard Prince to begin to race prior to raising sufficient funds to purchase his own running chair!
Ainsley’s Angels of Ohio
Tina Marie, Ambassador at Ainsley’s Angels of America and Leader at Celebrate Recovery is an advocate for all athletes. Team Bernard has raced alongside her daughter Ricki at many of our races. Tina has been an essential part of expertise in planning, advocating and communicating with our team.
Race Organizers
Jim Chaney, Executive Director at Run To You Racing, has helped with race race logistics for the Valentine's Day 5K, Canton HOF Marathon, CAK on the Runway.
Kevin Walsh, Head Cross Country Coach Jackson High School has been very helpful managing the Jackson Night Glo race!