I recently joined two other California Physical Therapy Association (CPTA) members Mitchell Kauk and Chris Powers on a cycling trip to raise revenue for the California Physical Therapy Fund and raise awareness about cervical cancer. 

This inaugural ride was ridden in memory of Rochelle Howard a valued staff member of CPTA, who lost her battle to cervical cancer earlier this year. Rochelle was diagnosed with cervical cancer (Stage 1B2 - Squamous Cell Carcinoma) in September 2014. She is one of the few patients whose cancer was not caused by HPV and the softball-sized tumor grew very rapidly, which worried her oncologist and his team. Rochelle was cherished by all who she came in contact at CPTA and was instrumental to the organization’s fundraising success. 

The California Physical Therapy Fund was established in 1977 as a means by which the association could provide financial assistance to students in the form of loans. Today, the FUND is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization similar to the PT Foundation and provides research grants to our California members. The mission of the CAL-PT-FUND is to advance the science and practice of physical therapy by providing grant support for physical therapist researchers in California. The CAL-PT-FUND is committed to building the body of knowledge to support evidence-based high-quality, cost-effective physical therapy. The principal goals of the Fund are to:

• Carry out fundraising activities to support physical therapist researchers in California
• Provide grant support for emerging physical therapist researchers in California to launch productive research careers
• Disseminate findings from research funded by the CAL-PT-FUND, to enhance evidence-based physical therapy practice in California
• Collaborate with the PT Foundation to supplement grant-awarded physical therapist researchers and scholarship recipients from California and national research initiatives

Our ride began October 30th and finished November 1st as we road from San Francisco to Los Angeles, each day averaging 150 miles. Beginning in Lucia on Highway 1 early Saturday morning I pushed down Highway 1 to Buellton, CA completing 156 miles, with 7,600 feet of elevation gain in just over 10 hours. Riding along with me for the last 110 miles was my 13-year-old son Gordon Smith. It was an exhilarating ride for a great cause. And I hope we’ll get a chance to repeat this next year. Please find a few select pictures from Day 2.



Paul D. Smith, PT, DPT
Staff Physical Therapist II
Center Coordinator of Clinical Education
Acute Care Rehabilitation Services Department
Community Regional Medical Center