left to right: Craig Hall, Director of Sales and Marketing Performance Health; Marcia Chaves Tyndall, 2017 Humanitarian Award Winner; Joyce Prahasky, Executive President, FSMTA.
Akron, Ohio – July 24, 2017 Marcia Chaves Tyndall, LMT was presented the Performance Health FSMTA Humanitarian Award at last month’s Florida State Massage Therapy Association’s Convention and Trade Show. Performance Health, manufacturer and marketer of Bon Vital’, Biofreeze, Prossage, TheraBand, Cramer and TheraPearl health and wellness products, honors individuals annually in the massage therapy industry for their efforts in improving the welfare of their clients and demonstrating selfless devotion to others. This is the fifteenth year Performance Health and the FSMTA have presented the award.
“We are once again honored and proud for the opportunity to partner with the FSMTA to honor someone who passionately gives back so much to others,” stated Craig Hall, Director of Sales and Marketing, Performance Health. “To this year’s award recipient, Marcia Chaves Tyndall, as well as all of you who have dedicated your lives to this amazing profession and made a commitment to change people lives through the art and healing power of massage, we thank you.”
“Ms. Tyndall tirelessly lends her support to “The Smart Ride,” a nonprofit organization that sponsors an annual two-day 165 mile bicycle ride from Miami to Key West that benefits HIV/AIDS service organizations. It is the second largest AIDS bicycle ride in the country and the only one of its size to give 100 percent of the raised funds to the charities involved,” continued Mr. Hall. Since 2003, The Smart Ride has raised over $8.5 million dollars and has already raised over $70K this year. In 2017, Ms. Tyndall became a Smart Ride crew leader, coordinating over 300 volunteer crew positions supporting the ride.
Ms. Tyndall is originally from Rio de Janeiro where she worked as a travel agent and tour guide. Fluent in English, Portuguese, Spanish, German and Italian, she lived in Italy and several other places while working as a model. She attended Le Cordon Bleu College of culinary arts, was a chef at Four Seasons Hotels, and has owned her own bed and breakfast hotel and a personal chef business. “As you can see Ms. Tyndall’s desire to make people feel good through massage, food and hospitality is in her DNA,” concluded Mr. Hall.
“Marcia is an amazing person. She is always a team player and very proactive in all she does. You would be hard pressed to find a more caring and giving individual,” added Joyce Prahasky, LMT, FSMTA Executive President/CEO. “She definitely is deserving of this special honor. I thank Performance Health for sponsoring this prestigious award every year. FSMTA is truly grateful for their many years of support and dedication to our organization.
Ms. Tyndall entry into the massage therapy and skin care industries was the result of her passion for customer service and delighting clients. She is a member of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA), where she chairs the Education, Social Media and Event Planning Committees. She has authored articles for MASSAGE Magazine and currently serves as President of the Broward Chapter of the FSMTA.
Ms. Tyndall is a licensed massage therapist and esthetician and owner of Lirios Massage in Fort Lauderdale where her mantra is healing your soul, nurturing your body.
“I love what I do and The Smart Ride organization is part of my heart and soul. We are a family of loving, caring people dreaming of a future free of HIV/AIDS,” added Ms. Tyndall. “ I am humbled, honored and thankful for being chosen as the recipient of such a wonderful recognition from Performance Health and the FSMTA.”
In addition to honoring Ms. Tyndall at the FSMTA convention, Performance Health will donate $1,000 to The Smart Ride
About The Smart Ride
Born out of a dream to make a real and significant difference in the lives of those infected, affected and at risk for HIV/AIDS, the two day, 165 mile ride became a reality in November of 2003 with less than 100 riders and about 100 crew. Miraculously, over $169,000 was raised and returned to AIDS Service Organizations. Thirteen years later, over $8.5 million has been distributed throughout Florida, making SMART Ride the second largest AIDS bicycle ride in the country and the only one of its size to give back 100% of raised funds. Our participants range in age from 18 to 73 and come from across the state of Florida. We attract between 400-500 participants with each event, but we touch thousands more on the road as we travel between cities and towns, and with each donation made. The 2017 ride from Miami to Key West is taking place November 17 and 18.
About Florida State Massage Therapy Association
The Florida State Massage Therapy Association (FSMTA), the oldest professional massage therapy association in the country, is the only association that works exclusively for massage therapists in Florida. Since its beginning, the FSMTA has been involved in the legislative process concerning the massage therapy profession. The FSMTA’s mission “To unify the massage therapy profession while creating, representing and promoting standards of excellence in health care” validates the FSMTA’s promise to serve and protect the massage therapist in Florida
About Performance Health
Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, Performance Health is a global health, wellness and self-care company. The Performance Health brands include Biofreeze, TheraBand, Cramer, Active Ankle, Bon Vital’, BVspa, Perform, and TheraPearl, all of which collectively create a complementary product offering that has helped professionals, patients and consumers relieve pain, accelerate recovery, grow stronger, and enhance quality of life for nearly 100 years.