Help Gina raise money

I will be running the Falmouth Road Race on August 20, 2023! I am running to raise funds for Best Buddies - Massachusetts/Rhode Island. Best Buddies is the world’s largest organization dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our programs empower the special abilities of people with IDD by helping them form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communication skills, and feel valued by society. 

I was recently interviewed by Best Buddies Mass/RI about my fundraising efforts and my commitment to run the FRR 10k race. Below is the article as found on the social media platform LinkedIn. Special thanks to Emily Marshall for writing such a beautiful and inspiring piece! 

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Best Buddies represents connection. Through connection, self-confidence and self-esteem blooms and grows!” -Gina Mach

Week one of our #featurefriday LinkedIn series features Gina Mach, a member of, and top fundraiser for, the 2023 Falmouth Road Race (FRR) Best Buddies team!

When you look up the FRR page and search Best Buddies, you will see Gina’s picture first in line, with a remarkable amount of $5,523.13 underneath it. As a first glance, most people who see this will think, “Wow that’s a lot of money.” But what many people don’t think about is why she has raised so much money, and why she is taking part in the FRR this year for team Best Buddies.

In honor of her hard work and dedication thus far, Best Buddies Massachusetts and Rhode Island wanted to share her story. You can find it below…

Gina, a mother to three children, and a wife of 24 years, has been a lifelong teacher. She has taught, and made an impact on the lives of, elementary, early childhood, and special education students across Massachusetts. In addition to teaching the traditional educational curriculum in the classroom, Gina works to shape hearts and minds to be positive and compassionate. She values, and instills in her students, kindness, empathy, and inclusion.

As a homeowner in Falmouth, Gina shared that she had never been to the FRR, let alone run it. Upon reaching her 50th birthday, Gina decided that this was going to be the year that she pushed fear out, and let inspiration come in, leading her to sign up for the 2023 FRR! Since making this decision, Gina’s new goal is not only to participate in the race, but to “run her heart out” and run it start to finish, alongside her son!

Gina chose to run for Team Best Buddies because she sees the incredible value of equality and integration for all. Her experience as an educator, combined with her daughter’s involvement in her high school Best Buddies chapter, has fostered her belief in, and passion for, the Best Buddies mission. As a mother, Gina shared that “it has been so rewarding watching her daughter take part in Best Buddies and watching her ambition and dedication blossom.”

In addition to raising money to support various Best Buddies programs, Gina hopes that by being part of team Best Buddies she can raise awareness for the organization and can emphasize the work Best Buddies does to help support individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

Gina also hopes that by sharing her story and participating in the 2023 FRR, people will understand the importance of the Best Buddies mission and know how enjoyable and meaningful working with Best Buddies can be. “Those with IDD benefit from the work that we do as volunteers, but as volunteers we gain so much more... more heart, more mind, and more soul,” Gina said.

We hope to see you on race day at the Black Dog Cafe cheering on Gina and the rest of Team Best Buddies!

#inclusion #bestbuddies #falmouthroadrace

Thank you for supporting me! Any donation, great or small, is greatly appreciated!