An important cause energized students and staff at Merrimac Elementary School as they recently participated in a monthlong initiative to raise money and awareness for ALS and the ALS Ride for Life, founded by Chris Pendergast.

In honor of Pendergast, who sadly passed away in October 2020, students and staff at Merrimac created a plan to recreate his famous annual feat of traveling from Montauk to Yankee Stadium to raise awareness for the disease. Throughout the month, during physical education class, the school ran or walked their desired distance which collectively added to the distance traveled during Pendergast’s ride.

In addition to the school’s distance goal, the building also met its monetary goal of raising $1,200 through donations for the ALS Ride for Life.