‘Run With the Saints’ 5K Run and 1K Walk Coming Nov 7, Benefits St Luke’s Work in Cuba

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Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien invites the community to lace up for the 5th annual Run with the Saints. The event benefits St. Luke’s work on behalf of an Episcopal parish in Cuba.

The fundraiser, which takes place on Sunday, November 7 beginning at 11:35 a.m. (sharp), offers a choice of a 3-mile run or a 1-mile kids/adult walk, both along a beautiful route by the water.

an announcement from St. Luke’s Parish

This multi-generational, community-wide walk/run and festive open-air lunch attracts close to 300 people.

The event also includes a post-run/walk open-air lunch and silent auction.

Participants can sign-up online, here. All festivities are open to the public and will be held at Saint Luke’s, 1864 Post Road.

Register by Fri, Nov 5 —You CAN’T on Race Day

Run with the Saints event fees include adults ($40), kids between the ages of 11 and 15-years-old ($20), children under the age of 10 ($10), and lunch only ($15).

Participants are encouraged to sign-up by midnight on Friday, Nov. 5 as race-day registration is not available this year.

Where the Money Raised Goes

Sofia Bender Cuba campers ornaments 2019

Photo from St. Luke's Parish

Saint Luke’s Parish Youth Trip participant Sofia Bender teaches campers how to make ornaments.

Run with the Saints raises critical funds for Saint Luke’s initiatives in Cuba. Event proceeds will send Cuban children to the National Episcopal Youth Camp next summer (pandemic permitting).

The funds will also help pay for community meals for the food insecure and support critical repairs and improvements to the crumbling community center and church located at Santa Cruz del Norte, Saint Luke’s Cuban partner parish.

The Cuban people have suffered greatly due to the pandemic and the country is currently grappling with severe food shortages.

Sponsorships

Run with the Saints offers two types of event sponsorships including a family sponsorship ($250) that provides two race tickets, four lunch tickets, and a recognition tile at the rebuilt Santa Cruz del Norte parish in Cuba.

Saint Luke's Emma Hunter Cuba teaches ukelele

Saint Luke’s Parish Youth Trip participant Emma Hunter teaches campers how to play the ukulele.

The corporate sponsorship offers four levels of participation (Title – $1,000, Gold – $500, Silver – $250, Bronze – $150) and provides recognition online, in all race promotional materials and on commemorative tiles at the rebuilt Santa Cruz del Norte parish in Cuba.

For more information regarding event sponsorships, contact Pam Vossler, event co-chairman, at ptdey@aol.com or 203.395.7343.

Saint Luke’s Parish in Cuba

Saint Luke’s is committed to helping the Episcopal Church in Cuba. A team of parishioners is working with a companion parish in Santa Cruz del Norte, Cuba, located just east of Havana.

Saint Luke’s sponsors both youth and adult trips to the island. Additionally, the church funded and helped construct a water filtration system at the church that is now providing the first reliably fresh water to people of Santa Cruz del Norte.

St. Luke's Parish members at the church in Cuba

Photo from St. Luke's Parish

Members of the Saint Luke’s Parish Youth Trip in Matanzas, Cuba (from left): Back row: Nicole Savage, Alexander Peters, Win Courtemanche, Derek Stefanovsky; front row: Katherine Vaillancourt, Sofia Bender, Miranda Wilson, Emma Hunter, Juliette Johnson, Bishop of the Episcopal Church of Cuba Griselda Delgado del Carpio, Octavia Molkenthin, Tom McGarty, Naomi Cunningham in Matanzas, Cuba

Separately, other Saint Luke’s parishioners have established an organization called Friends of the Episcopal Church of Cuba (FECC). This organization works to engage more parishes and communities around the country to support the Episcopal Church in Cuba.

FECC was instrumental in helping to reunite the Cuban Church with the Episcopal Church of the United States.

Members of the Saint Luke’s Parish Youth Trip in Havana

Members of the Saint Luke’s Parish Youth Trip in Havana (from left): Juliette Johnson, Emma Hunter, Tom McGarty, Octavia Molkenthin, Win Courtemanche, Sofia Bender, Alexander Peters, Derek Stefanovsky (in window), Nicole Savage, Naomi Cunningham, Miranda Wilson, Yordanis Acosta Porta, Katherine Vaillancourt

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, annual mission trips to Cuba have been paused since March 2020. In the past, Saint Luke’s has hosted adult parishioner visits to partner parish Santa Cruz del Norte and a Youth mission trip to Cuba for three summers (2017 to 2019).

This video of the 2019 Youth Trip to Cuba is by Miranda Wilson, Cuba Youth Trip Chaperone (2018, 2019) and Interim Director of Communications at Saint Luke’s Parish of Darien.

Thanks to Sponsors

Saint Luke’s would like to thank the following 2021 Run with the Saints event sponsors for their support: Bryan and Brian Construction, Darien Butcher Shop, Darien Plumbing & Heating, Edgerton, Inc., First County Bank, Flowers & Flowers, JetBlue, Michael Joseph’s, Monograms off Madison, Nielsen’s Florist, North Star International Life & Leadership Coaching/Grief Recovery, Sails Bar & Grill, Sanda’s Cleaners, Specs, Tanknology, Ten Twenty Post, Verizon, Vineyard Vines and Williams & Company.

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