Team Mercy retraces 115-year-old path of mercy during Bike for Life

On September 27, three representatives from Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care’s Catherine McAuley MERCY Foundation will embark on another 500-mile “Bike for Life” ride from Asheville, through/via Charlotte, to Wilmington to raise money for the foundation’s international relief work.  “Team Mercy” cyclists include Asheville residents Tim Johnston, Mercy Services CEO; Celia Liming; and Reverend John Schneider. The first leg of the route is symbolic in that it retraces the 115-year-old path of mercy from Belmont to Western North Carolina.

The riders will start in Asheville on September 27 and cruise between 60 and 90 miles a day through Hendersonville, Shelby, Mount Holly and Belmont. Sister Paula Diann Marlin of Belmont joins them in Mt. Holly and will cycle to Belmont with the group. Between noon and 1 p.m. a commemoration, lunch and blessing by the Sisters of Mercy South Central Community will take place. Later, the ride will continue across the state of North Carolina, ending in Wilmington on Oct. 4.

Since the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, donations to The Catherine McAuley MERCY Foundation, including those made during Bike for Life, have enabled 13 teams to provide care, food and clothing to an average of 1,000 men, women and children at 11 sites and 15 orphanages. During the 2013 Thanksgiving holiday, various members of Team Mercy traveled to the Philippines after a devastating typhoon. This was the very first medical team from North Carolina to arrive and assist people and families affected by the disaster.

“Gifts to Bike for Life enable Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care to provide care, food and clothing in Haiti, the Philippines and wherever we are called to serve,” stated Johnston. “As we celebrate 115 years by retracing the path of mercy, we are grateful for all of those who contribute in the spirit of mercy.”

Sister Maria Goretti, who has served as a Sister of Mercy for more than 60 years, put out a special, call to the Sisters asking each of them to donate $11.15 or $5 for the 500-mile ride to the Catherine McAuley MERCY Foundation. The first amount is a nod to the Sisters of Mercy and associates 115-year anniversary. The public is also encouraged to make donations to fund Sisters of Mercy Urgent Care’s international medical mission efforts. To support the Bike for Life, contributions should be made payable to CMMF, include Bike for Life on the memo line and mail to P.O. Box 16367, Asheville, N.C. 28816; or contribute online at www.urgentcares.org/mercy.