![[home]](/comm/images/usccb_logo.gif){kind=logo}
WASHINGTON (May 9, 2003) -- The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) announced today the names of the cyclists who will be participating in the cross-country bike tour to focus attention on poverty in the United States and the need to promote permanent solutions toward breaking the cycle of poverty.
The cyclists range in age from 19 to 72 and include students, teachers, a seminarian, executives, retirees, and two people from the national staff of CCHD and another staff member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). A complete list of names and residences is at the end of this release.
Named BRAKE THE CYCLE OF POVERTY, the journey will begin on June 1, when a core team of cyclists will depart from San Francisco and travel through the following 12 states: California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. It will end on August 1 in Washington, DC.
In addition, another team of 10 cyclists will leave Manchester, Connecticut, on July 27, travel through New York, New Jersey and Delaware, and join up with the cross-country team in Baltimore for the conclusion of the Bike Tour.
"We are proud of the diversity represented in our core group of riders," said Mary Wright, CCHD Education Coordinator and Brake the Cycle of Poverty Bike Tour organizer. She added, "Although we are a mix of ages and occupations, we share one thing in common—our passion for our mission of educating people about solutions to poverty and injustice in America. Throughout our journey, we look forward to spending time in the evenings with grass roots groups and Catholic parishioners interested in learning about challenges related to the poor and low-income population. When it comes to poverty, we are urging people to think about it, talk about it and take action to permanently eliminate it."
When asked why Catholics should focus on U.S. poverty and human dignity at this time, CCHD Executive Director Reverend Robert Vitillo said, "Our faith calls us to it, our nation needs it and our covenant with God demands it. A sixth of our children are growing up poor in the richest nation on earth. The blessings and burdens of American life are not being shared fairly."
For more information about the Brake the Cycle of Poverty in America Bike Tour, and more detail on the route the cyclists will follow, visit www.brakethecycle.org or contact Mary Yerrick at 301-320-6888.
About the Catholic Campaign for Human Development:
Established by the Catholic Bishops of the United States, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development is one of the largest private funders of self-help programs initiated and led by low-income people in the United States. Committed to the permanent elimination of poverty and injustice in America, CCHD has offered $260 million in support to more than 4,000 programs nationwide that know no racial or religious boundaries - projects that help create jobs, improve neighborhoods and allow people to find a way out of poverty, not just for a day but for a lifetime. For more information about Poverty in America, please visit www.povertyusa.org or call CCHD at (800) 946-4243.
Brake the Cycle Riders
Erin Butts, Helena MT
Hilary Chester, Dallas, TX
Chad Evans, San Francisco, CA
Maria Flores, Silver Spring, MD
Rich Fowler, Sacramento, CA
Brian Gordon, Blue Springs, MO
Kevin Graves, Silver Spring, MD
Bother Jeff Gros, Washington, DC
Ryan Hall, Las Vegas, NV
Ron Hamm, Silver City, NM
Jerry Hrovat, Stoughton, WI
Ken Klein, Davenport, IA
Lyle Langlois, Phoenix, AZ
Paul Lipetzky, Minneapolis, MN
Kay Martin, Phoenix, AZ
John Molineaux, Cheverly, MD
Jose Ramirez, Miami, FL
Brenda Rascher, Camden, NJ
Sarah Stolfa, Philadelphia, PA
Lee Anne Adams, Washington, DC
Mary Wright, Silver Spring, MD
Jennifer Seibly, San Francisco, CA
Rob Marco, Doylestown, PA
George Finan, Austin TX
Pat McGovern, Danville CA
Bob King, Manchester, CT
Kathy King, Manchester, CT
John Ryan, Manchester, CT
Lou Terzo, Manchester, CT
Kelly Knotts, Vernon, CT
Jeanette Beland, Somersville, CT
Charlie Chatterton, Vernon, CT
Deb Poudrier, Manchester, CT
Greg Andrews, Manchester, CT
Mary Lou Tuchols, Manchester, CT
.Road Support Team
Jack and Mary Jo Hogan, Washington, DC
Susan Stolfa, Magdalena, NM