LAKEVILLE — School is not currently in session, but Apponequet Regional High School was bustling with life on Saturday, Aug. 3 as the campus served as a water stop for cyclists participating in the Pan-Mass Challenge.

The Pan-Mass Challenge is a bike ride that raises money for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Sixteen different routes, ranging from 25 to 211 miles, are ridden by thousands of participants each year.

Riders traveling from Sturbridge and Wellesley to Bourne had the option to make a pit stop at Apponequet Regional High School to load up on water, granola bars and other refreshments. One of them was Lakeville resident Wayne Sula, who rode in his 25th Pan Mass Challenge. This year, Sula raised $7,000, he said.

Sula is a survivor of testicular cancer and got involved in road cycling after going through treatment.

During that time he was a big admirer of Lance Armstrong, who is also a testicular cancer survivor. Armstrong’s message that cancer survivors have an obligation to make an impact in the name of those who didn’t make survive the disease, which he called “the responsibility of the cured,” stuck with him, he said. 

“That’s what caused me to sign up for the Pan Mass Challenge and I’ve never looked backed yet.”

Awaiting the thousands of riders as they made it to the Apponequet High School water stop were supporters of the ride, who cheered and thanked riders for their participation and fundraising.

Also present at Apponequet were Pedal Partners, patients who are currently going through cancer treatment or have previously gone through treatment.

Pedal Partner Wolfgang Bach, 6, said that his favorite part of the event was the slushies.

Michael Struppa, father of Pedal Partner Giuseppe Struppa, said that his son is overwhelmed with the amount of support that the Pan Mass Challenge provides.

“It’s pretty cool to see a lot of positivity for something that is stressful and sad,” said Struppa. “It helps because you know that you are not alone and there are people who care.”

Rider Melissa Hohos is one of them. This year was Hohos’ fourth year riding in the Pan Mass Challenge, though she volunteered at the Jimmy Fund fundraiser for several years before doing the ride.  

Hohos started volunteering after she saw the doctors she worked with riding in it, she said. A research nurse at Dana-Farber, Hohos was inspired to get involved. “I knew that all the proceeds were going to the hospital I worked at,” she said. 

This year she’d be thinking of her grandmother who was diagnosed with stage four bladder cancer four years ago and is being treated at Dana-Farber. 

Hohos noted that her 98-year-old grandmother is still fighting because of the treatment she’s getting. “I’m receiving first-hand the benefits of the fundraiser,” she said.