Voigt Pritchard to chair CycleNation

Voigt Pritchard to chair CycleNation

Sara Voigt Pritchard

Winooski resident Sarah Voigt Pritchard, QKA, is excited about chairing the American Heart Association’s first CycleNation event in Vermont. 

“CycleNation is fitness-focused, it’s in a beautiful place at a beautiful time of year, and it will raise awareness about the American Heart Association and heart and brain health,” Voigt Pritchard, a senior retirement plan consultant to Pension Works, an Ascensus Company, said.

Vermont’s inaugural CycleNation event will take place on Thursday, Aug. 15, from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. in Waterfront Park in Burlington. There will be 50 stationary bikes, and participants can form teams to cycle relay-style during the event. Cycling begins at 5:30 p.m., and a celebration of the event will begin at 7:30 p.m. Participants will raise a minimum of $1,000 per bike. Twenty bikes are already sold. Funds raised will help the American Heart Association fight heart disease and stroke.

Voigt Pritchard has been active with the American Heart Association in the past, having worked on the Vermont Go Red for Women Luncheon. Voigt Pritchard’s family has been affected by heart disease. Her stepfather, Donald Ross, is a longtime survivor of heart disease and after multiple surgeries, benefits greatly from the advancement of medicines and treatments.

The 35-year-old is looking forward to continuing those advancements by bringing her peers to CycleNation, and to hosting an event in the summer.

“This is a different event, it’s outside and fitness focused,” Voigt Pritchard said. “It has broad appeal in the community and introduces a really fun way for people of all ages to get involved with the Heart Association for the first time.”

Originally from Proctor, VT, Voigt Pritchard went to Hamilton College in upstate New York, then lived in Boston for a few years.

“I returned to Vermont so I could enjoy the changing seasons instead of commuting through them,” she said. “I feel fortunate to live in such a beautiful place with a wonderful and supportive community.”

In her job at Pension Works, Voigt Pritchard designs and consults on retirement plans as a third-party administrator. She and her husband, Austin, both enjoy outdoor biking (stationary during inclement weather) and camping. You will find them on the slopes snowboarding and skiing during the winter months. They enjoy being close to family and spend a good deal of time with them on Lake Dunmore in Brandon, VT. Sarah is a regular volunteer at events her company and coworkers support.

“I could not be happier to have a chair like Sarah for this event,” said Nancy Luke, regional director for the American Heart Association in Vermont. “Her energy, enthusiasm, and passion for the mission are second to none!” 

“Heart health affects everyone – women, men and children,” Voigt Pritchard said. “I am honored to support an organization that supports and encourages a healthy community.  CycleNation will raise awareness about heart and brain health. What better way to celebrate such important work than group fitness, music and the Vermont outdoors?”

Voigt Pritchard is joined by an executive leadership team consisting of:

  • Christopher Brown, REV Indoor Cycling
  • Courtney Clark, Audio Solutions at Avid
  • Sarah DeGray, REV Indoor Cycling
  • Laurie Orzech, Vermont Information Processing

REV Indoor Cycling is providing the stationary bikes for the event.

For information about CycleNation, visit CycleNation.org/Burlington or contact [email protected].