BUTLER TWP — Coaching he received in the Butler Area Midget Football League proved helpful to Armand Natili.

“It helped shape my life,” said Natili, who turns 58 this month and has been a professor at Butler County Community College for 26 years. “I lost my father around that time and my coaches were very important people in my life.”

Natili played for Institute Hill in the BAMFL. His coaches were Dominic “Peppy” Monteleone and Art Monteleone.

“The Monteleone family had a real impact on me,” Natili admitted.

Now, decades later, he’s returning the favor.

Beginning Saturday, Natili is bicycling his way from Butler to Washington, D.C., an approximate 350-mile trip over six days, to benefit the It’s About The Warrior Foundation. The charity organization benefits veterans in the tri-state area and is headed by founder Steve Monteleone, Peppy’s son.

“We’ve known each other since we were kids,” Natili said. “I’ve always wanted to do an overnight bike ride and since my son lives in Baltimore now, I decided to go all out and ride to Washington.

“There are a lot of veterans in my classes at the college, so I figured as long as I’m doing this, I should benefit some charity. Then I thought of Steve’s group ... The whole thing just goes together.”

Natili originally hoped to raise $1,000 in donations for It’s About The Warrior. He’s doubled that figure through donations from 25 people — all friends and acquaintances of he and his wife.

It’s About The Warrior is in its third year of existence and has already provided help to 200 veterans in western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and northern West Virginia.

“It all started with a golf outing at Olde Stonewall three years ago and it’s just taken off,” Monteleone said. “We help local veterans through transitional, economic, recreational and therapeutic programs.

“Armand approached me about the bike ride idea. I think it’s great because it will create awareness for our organization as well.”

Natili will wear a camouflage outfit with the IATW logo attached during his ride.

He only started riding a bicycle regularly five years ago and has never attempted a long-distance ride anywhere near this magnitude.

“I’ve been training for this since winter,” Natili said. “I have a trainer bike in my basement that I used when the weather was bad.

“Now that it’s been nice, I’ve been outside putting in longer miles.”

With the exception of the first leg of the trip — to Connellsville, where he will meet up with his wife — Natili is taking this bike journey alone.

He will pack food for snacks, but plans to dine at restaurants and stay in motels along the way.

“The average distance I’ll ride each day is about 50 miles,” Natili said. “I’ve never ridden 50 miles in back to back days in my life.

“It’s like training for your first marathon. You put all the work and preparation in, but you never know how it’s gonna go until you get out there.”

Monteleone is grateful for Natili’s efforts.

“We’ve taken all sorts of donations from people, ranging from $10 to $35,000,” Monteleone said. “Armand thought of us and this is certainly one of the more unique donations we’ll receive.”

“People are giving. They believe in this cause,” Natili said. “I’ve gotten more than I could have hoped for.”