Three Berkshire real estate professionals will run, bike and kayak to raise $3,000 in support of employment and inclusion for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
BERKSHIRE COUNTY, Mass. — Three women from William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty’s Berkshire offices are taking their teamwork beyond real estate this September, competing together in the 49th Great Josh Billings RunAground Triathlon while raising funds for Berkshire County nonprofit ExtraSpecialTeas.
Regional Brokerage Manager Steph McNair and Sales Advisors Dani Giulian and Stephanie Rapisarda will form the William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty relay team. McNair will compete in the kayak leg, Giulian will tackle the running leg, and Rapisarda will take on the cycling portion of the iconic Berkshire race.
The 2026 Great Josh Billings RunAground takes place Sunday, September 20. The race begins in Great Barrington with a 27-mile cycling leg, followed by a 5-mile paddle on Stockbridge Bowl and a 6.4-mile run finishing at Tanglewood in Lenox.
Their goal beyond the finish line: raise $3,000 for ExtraSpecialTeas — and have a little fun getting there.
“The Josh is one of those events that feels uniquely Berkshire — it’s competitive, a little crazy, and completely rooted in community,” said McNair. “We thought, if we’re going to run, bike and paddle our way across the Berkshires, let’s make every mile count for an organization doing something truly meaningful here at home.”
A Berkshire Organization Brewing Belonging
ExtraSpecialTeas is a Berkshire County nonprofit dedicated to creating meaningful employment opportunities and community inclusion for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Founded by Cherri and Scott Sanes and inspired by their son, Jache, the organization grew from a concern familiar to many families: the limited employment and community opportunities available after a young adult with disabilities ages out of the school system.
ExtraSpecialTeas is more than a traditional program. Its community-based teahouses operate as working businesses, integrating paid employment, vocational development, life-skills training and daily community engagement. Participants gain real-world experience in areas including customer service, hospitality, tea blending, food preparation, retail operations, packaging, fulfillment and inventory management while building confidence, independence, purpose and community connection.
The organization’s reach extends throughout Berkshire County, with participants traveling from communities including Great Barrington, Housatonic, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Lee, Lenox, Dalton and Pittsfield.
“We spend our professional lives talking about what makes the Berkshires such an extraordinary place to live,” McNair said. “But a strong community isn’t just about where people live. It’s about whether people feel valued, have purpose and know they belong. That’s what ExtraSpecialTeas creates every day.”
How to Support the Team
Community members, clients, colleagues and friends are invited to help the William Pitt Sotheby’s team reach its $3,000 fundraising goal. Donations will support ExtraSpecialTeas’ employment training, vocational programming, community engagement initiatives and continued growth of inclusive opportunities for individuals with disabilities throughout Berkshire County and beyond.
To donate, visit the team’s GoFundMe page:
Three Women. Three Legs. One Extra Special Cause.
About William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty
Founded in 1949, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty and Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty manages a
$5.5 billion portfolio with more than 1,100 sales associates in 29 brokerages spanning Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. The company is one of the largest Sotheby’s International Realty(R) affiliates globally and the 34th-largest real estate company by sales volume in the United States. For more information, visit the website at williampitt.com.
Sotheby’s International Realty’s worldwide network includes 1,075 offices throughout 81 countries and territories on six continents.
About ExtraSpecialTeas
ExtraSpecialTeas is a Berkshire County nonprofit creating meaningful employment, vocational training, life-skills development and community inclusion for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization operates community-based teahouses in Great Barrington and Housatonic and is guided by a simple belief: everyone deserves the opportunity to work, contribute and belong. ExtraSpecialTeas: We Brew Belonging.
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Press Contact: Stephanie McNair, [email protected] ~ 413-204-4749
