Pacing For The Cure is proud to offer six scholarships to deserving 2025 High School senior students looking to pursue higher education, either through college or trade school in 2026.
The scholarships, each valued at $2,500, will be awarded to six prospective graduates in New Jersey, Maine, Ohio, Delaware/Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York.
The scholarships are being awarded in honor of people special to the Pacing For The Cure cause, including Mr. Bill Gesek (New Jersey), Ms. Jacqueline L. Graffam (Maine), Mrs. Barbara Carter (Ohio), Mr. Tom Tallman (Delaware/Maryland), Mr. Jeff Altmeyer (Pennsylvania) and Mr. Thomas Merton (New York). Each of these people showed strength and dignity while dealing with the debilitating effects of their diseases and each had strong ties to the harness racing industry. The scholarship for New York is in honor of Tom Merton, who currently lives with MS, but it hasn’t stopped him from having a career high in wins and purse earnings in 2024.
In order to be considered for the scholarship, students must write a brief paragraph about key topics that provide the Pacing for the Cure Board with insight into their character, qualities, and achievements. They are also required to fill out the online application related to the region where they live under the scholarship section on the PFTC website.
It is important to note that the applicant, their parent, or their sibling must have a chronic illness or disability related to mobility that requires or may eventually require, a mobility device or medical services.
Applications will start being accepted on Monday (March 24) and are due no later than Monday (June 30).
All applicants will be contacted by Friday (July 11) by the PFTC board to inform them of their decision.
Pacing For The Cure is also available to help those with medical needs. Although initially formed to help those with Multiple Sclerosis, the organization is available to help provide mobility assistance and medical services for individuals living with autoimmune and neuromuscular diseases (in particular for Multiple Sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Cerebral Palsy, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Parkinson’s Disease). The application can be filled out here: mobility-and-services-application.