Stonington Rallies Around Lacrosse Coach Fighting Cancer

STONINGTON, CT — A GoFundMe has been started for Jeff Medeiros, aka "Coach Dune," a Stonington High School girls lacrosse coach diagnosed with stage 3 anal cancer July 30. Medeiros has been unable to work since October at his job as a mail carrier at the Ashaway Post Office.

The fundraiser to help support Medeiros was started by Robert Dimock.

"If you’ve ever followed Stonington High School girls lacrosse, been a member of Mystic Muscle and Fitness, or eaten Friday Fish Fry at the Pawcatuck VFW, you may know Jeff Medeiros," the GoFundMe reads.

The cost of treatments is putting a strain on his family and could exceed $100,000.

Medeiros grew up in Stonington where he lives with his partner, Nicole, and his two young daughters, Ava, 14, and Zoe, 11.

"When he is not spending time with his family, Jeff has always been willing to volunteer to local causes in our community," according to the GoFundMe.

Medeiros has coached track and field since 1994 and girls lacrosse since 2000 at Stonington High School, bringing home state titles in each.

"But developing the program from its second year in 2000 may be Jeff’s proudest achievement," the GoFundMe reads. "Jeff volunteered his time as an unpaid head coach until 2005 and used fundraising to finance the program’s needs until it was fully funded in 2015."

He has also volunteered his time at the Pawcatuck VFW where has cooked at the Friday Fish Fry since it began in 2013.

As of Tuesday morning, the fundraiser had brought in $10,475 of a $35,000 goal.

To donate, go to the GoFundMe page.