‘Team Wloch’ Plans Cycling Event to Support Local Cancer Care

WARE — Ed Wloch, a paramedic for the Ware Fire Department, and his wife, Cindy, have been a team for years — “29 years to be exact, and it was love at first sight,” said Cindy, smiling as she reflected on Ed proposing over a competitive game of Pac-Man many years ago.

In addition to their longtime commitment to each other, Ed and Cindy share a love for their community and a passion for cycling. “I grew up in Ware,” said Cindy. “Ed has been a firefighter with the Ware Fire Department since 1989 and a paramedic since 1997.” After being moved by a patient weak with cancer who needed to be transported to the hospital for care, Ed and Cindy began planning a way to focus their love for their community hospital and their passion for cycling to help others with cancer. “For me, the reason to be of help is more personal: my mom passed away from pancreatic cancer when I was seven years old. Cancer is something that I have dealt with most of my life,” said Cindy.

Together the husband-and-wife team created Cycling for Cancer Care, an event to benefit cancer services and programs at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital.

The Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital offers access to the most current cancer care, including evaluation, diagnostics, therapeutic intervention, and chemotherapy all close to home.

“Knowing that there are so many cyclists locally, we decided to create an event that would give them an opportunity to do something that they love while supporting cancer care right here in town,” said Ed.

The Wloches have quite a bit of experience cycling for cancer causes. For the past four years they have volunteered annually for Katelynn’s Ride, held at Hampshire College in Amherst. “Ed rode it a few times, now we volunteer in the medic tent every year,” said Cindy. “Ed has also completed the PanMass Challenge eight times, a 192-mile, two day charitable cycling event which begins in Sturbridge and ends in Provincetown. He did the riding, and I did the fund-raising.

“We are excited about this event and look forward to meeting area cyclists,” she continued. “We’re also looking for a few volunteers to help the day of the event, so for those that don’t cycle, there are many other opportunities to be involved.”

Ed and Cindy Wloch realize the positive impact charitable cycling can have, and welcome community members to join them in their event. Cycling for Cancer Care is slated for Sunday, Sept. 18, beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall located on West Street in Ware. This cycling charity ride consists of rides for cyclists of all levels and includes a 10-, 20-and 65-mile route.

The registration fee of $100 includes a T-shirt and the post-ride barbecue. For cycling teams of five or more, the registration fee will be $50 per person.

To register or to get more information about the Cycling for Cancer Care event, contact Ed and Cindy Wloch at cyclingforcancercare@comcast.net, or call (413) 967-6102.