WESTFIELD – Westfield State women’s lacrosse coach Jeff Pechulis will ride in the Pan-Mass Challenge bicycle ride to support the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
The Pan-Mass Challenge riders cover a variety of routes on August 6 and 7. Pechulis has chosen to ride from Sturbridge to Provincetown, a route that makes an overnight stop at fellow MASCAC school Massachusetts Maritime Academy and is regarded as the toughest route among those offered by the PMC, with nearly 200 miles of riding over the two day event.
Westfield State Jeff Pechulis patrols the Owls’ sideline during a game. He will ride in the Pan Mass Challenge on August 6 and 7, 2016 to support the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Institute.
Pechulis is riding the route for the second straight year.
“The experience last year was amazing” said Pechulis. “Hundreds of families, patients and loved ones line the bike route each day to cheer us on and wave signs like ‘You saved my mommy’ or ‘I’m alive because of you’. Over 4,000 volunteers are on hand throughout the ride to first thank us for riding and then to keep us hydrated, nourished and motivated.”
Westfield State University student athletes and coaches make significant contributions to community service throughout the year, donating more than 1,500 hours of community service.
Last September, Pechulis and members of the Owls women’s lacrosse team volunteered at the Team Lenhardt golf tournament in Duxbury, Mass. to help in the battle against cancer.
If you’d like to support coach Pechulis’ ride, you can learn more or make a gift online at http://profile.pmc.org/JP0381
On the field, Pechulis coached the Westfield State women’s lacrosse team to a 14-5 overall record and a share of the MASCAC regular season title. He was named the circuit’s coach of the year as well as the league’s sportsmanship coach of the year. – Courtesy of Westfield State Sports
