Senator Hassan Announces Jerry Lachance of Sandown as April “Granite Stater of the Month”

WASHINGTON – Senator Maggie Hassan announced today her “Granite Stater of the Month” for April, Jerry Lachance of Sandown. At 70 years old, Jerry is currently biking more than 2,000 miles from Florida to New Hampshire in order to raise funds for Project Hero, a nonprofit that supports veterans who have been injured or suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A Vietnam veteran and volunteer firefighter of more than 20 years, Jerry is completing his second journey to raise money for Project Hero. On his first ride in 2016, he raised $25,000 for Project Hero and hopes to raise the same amount this year over the course of his 40-day journey. Learn more about Project Hero here and Jerry’s ride here.

Senator Hassan launched the “Granite Stater of the Month” initiative last year to recognize outstanding New Hampshire citizens who go above and beyond to help their neighbors and make their communities stronger. To nominate a New Hampshire citizen to be a “Granite Stater of the Month,” constituents can complete the nomination form here. 

Click here and see below for a statement that Senator Hassan submitted into the Congressional Record recognizing Jerry Lachance.

Mr. President, this month, I am proud to recognize Gerard (Jerry) Lachance of Sandown, New Hampshire, as our Granite Stater of the Month in honor of his incredible dedication to supporting our veterans.

At 70 years old, Jerry is currently on a more than 2,000-mile journey by bike from Florida to the northernmost tip of New Hampshire to raise funds for Project Hero, a nonprofit that builds adaptive bikes and helps support veterans and first responders impacted by injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Jerry, an avid cyclist for 12 years, a volunteer firefighter of more than 20 years for the Sandown Fire Rescue, and a Vietnam veteran wanted to find a way to give back and support the brave service members he considers to be his heroes. During one of Project Hero’s Honor Rides, Jerry met a veteran who lost his leg during his service. The veteran was using an adaptive bike that he received from Project Hero – which inspired Jerry to do more to help the organization.

In 2016, Jerry biked from the New Hampshire-Canadian border to Key West, Florida with the goal of raising $5,000. But his community was so inspired by Jerry’s ride that he ended up raising $25,000 for Project Hero.

This year, over the course of his 40-day ride, Jerry hopes to raise another $25,000 to support our veterans.

We owe our brave veterans and service members a debt of gratitude that we can never truly repay, but we must try. And efforts like Jerry’s are an example for all of us of the dedication and support we can give to those who have sacrificed bravely for our country.

Jerry Lachance has proven to be a shining example of how we can support our veterans and he embodies the values and all-hands-on-deck spirt of the Granite State. I thank Jerry for both his own military service and his commitment to our veterans, and I am honored to recognize him as our Granite Stater of the Month.

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