Firefighter Bikes 2,000 Miles to Raise $21K for Veterans
How Jerry Lachance Put the Pedal to the Metal for Charity
By Mae Velasco, HeroFuel® Reporter
For 68-year-old Jerry Lachance, although it had been a long time since he was honorably discharged from the army in the late 1960s, serving his country was like riding a bike — literally.
In an effort to help recovering veterans and to benefit the Ride 2 Recovery movement, Lachance went on the ride of his life: he biked from New Hampshire to Florida to raise money for this major cause. Starting his trek in Pittsburgh, right at the Canadian border, he cycled more than 2,000 miles down to Key West. His original goal was to raise $10,000 for charity, but his inspirational act whizzed past that. More than $21,500 went toward changing the lives of our healing heroes.
“My 68-year-old mind said, ‘You can do it!’ My 68-year-old body said, ‘You’re a nut!’” Lachance told The Eagle Tribune.
Before this Sandown volunteer firefighter donned his firefighting helmet for the 22nd year now, and before he donned his biking helmet, he was drafted into the army in 1968 and spent 13 months in combat during the Vietnam War. He was discharged with a Bronze Star and other medals before owning a successful carpentry business for 32 years in New Hampshire.
When asked what his greatest passions were, he told HeroFuel® his love went to his wife, his four daughters and 12 grandchildren. But cycling and his drive for helping veterans became a passion, too. And how did his passion for cycling begin and how did he get the idea to use that one passion to fuel another?
While he enjoyed biking as a child, he didn’t pick it up again until 2008. A half a year later, he cycled from Vienna to Budapest along the Danube River!
“Health reasons. Started riding for exercise. Friends convinced me to get a better bike and encouraged me to ride longer distances. [I] love to just get on a bike and go. I only need a credit card, ID and bike — I don’t need anything else,” Lachance said. “[It’s a] very freeing feeling. A bad day on a bike is still better than a good day at work!”
Before his 2,000-mile ride, he had already cycled from Florida to Canada in segments. But what sparked his fire to make the whole stretch in one? He was participating in a local Ride 2 Recovery event back in May when he encountered a veteran who had one leg amputated.
“I talked to him, listened to his story and knew that I wanted to raise money for wounded veterans. And since I had ridden from Canada to Florida in segments, I thought I could take a month and do the ride again,” he said.
From there, it was set. He would ride from Sept. 3 to Sept. 30. That’s not to say that he didn’t have his doubts. What was he most worried about?
“It is a month away. Can I keep up to the schedule? I hope I don’t let anyone down. These hills are going to kill me!” Lachance rattled off, humorously showing that this iron man still had very human concerns.
The firefighter set off and rode about 100 miles per day — but he wasn’t alone. People who heard of his story, from fellow firefighters to veterans, supported him and his mission. Whether it was by housing him at fire stations at night or donating to his cause, his solo bike ride inspired a wave of teamwork.
There are people who get winded merely walking to their mailboxes. How did this hero keep up his energy and motivation as he cycled down the entire East Coast? What would he tell himself to keep going?
“I can’t let the veterans down. All the people who donated are expecting me to be there, to finish. Each day, a different firehouse was expecting me to be there around 5. I needed to make it,” he said.
The adventure had a few bumps in the road. One day he had a flat tire, another day his leg was swollen from a bug bite, and as he rode down Florida, he got second-degree sun burns on his hands and face, but acts of kindness, encouragement and his own sheer will carried him through every stop.
All the firehouses, chiefs, officers and others welcomed him and gave him home-cooked meals when they could. A fire chief even invited him to speak with a wheelchair-bound veteran who had brain injuries. The challenges he faced were worth his singular reward: raising money to give to disabled veterans, all with the help of generous donors.
“The trip I had planned ended up being a magical mystery tour,” Lachance told The Eagle Tribune. “I could go on for hours…. I have goosebumps thinking about all the things they did for me.”
By the time he hit Florida, he was escorted by firefighters, police officers, sheriffs and state police for hundreds of miles, while Miami officers even held up rush-hour traffic for him. According to Union Leader, one of his favorite memories was when he passed under a bridge in Miami and saw a giant American flag hanging on an aerial ladder truck, all while multiple firefighters saluted him as he rode by.
“From what started as a ‘crazy idea’ from a 68-year-old volunteer fireman has spiraled into an amazing adventure for Jerry, myself and all of his supporters from around the world,” Sandown EMS Capt. Jonathan Goldman said to Union Leader.
Lachance finished his ride in front of the famous Sloppy Joe’s Bar in Key West and was met by a cheering crowd and Fire Chief Mike Davilla. And while the firefighter loved riding, he knew this accomplishment wasn’t about him or this tremendous feat. It was all about the awareness and aid everyone altogether as a team brought to veterans in need.
And what advice did this hero have for others looking to embark on a similar journey to care for those who have made immense sacrifices for our nation?
“Advice: Go for it! Even if you only raise $50, if everybody raises $50, they [veterans] will be okay,” Lachance said, adding that bringing attention to their needs was even more priceless.
Want to learn more about Jerry’s Ride? Check out his Facebook page here!
