Saint Francis University Friar Prepares for His 11th Annual Charity Bike Ride
Loretto, PA (05/08/2021) — On June 6th 2021, Brother Shamus McGrenra, a 74-year-old, stage 4 colon cancer survivor and Franciscan Friar will embark on his 11th Annual #GoBroShamus Charity Bike Ride. All the money raised will be used to support the Dorothy Day Outreach Center at Saint Francis University which serves local residents struggling with rural poverty.
Brother Shamus will cycle nearly 570 miles through Florida starting his journey in Pensacola and ending June 22nd in Sarasota.
This year, Brother Shamus has a goal of raising $100,000 for the Dorothy Day Center at Saint Francis University. This goal would allow them to reach $500,000 in gifts to the Dorothy Day Outreach Center over the past 11 years.
Brother Shamus will be collecting donations for this year's charity ride through December 2021.
About Brother Shamus McGrenra
Born in Philadelphia in 1947, Brother Shamus was the youngest of six children. Knowing that he wanted to do something for the Lord, he became a Franciscan Friar at the age of 19. This is what led Brother Shamus to the Saint Francis Friary in Loretto, PA. After graduating from the University in 1972, he continued helping students working for several years in different higher education institutions. In 2008, Brother Shamus decided to return to his roots at Saint Francis University where his spiritual journey first began. After witnessing an emotional encounter of a young woman and her two children at the Dorothy Day Center, he decided to put his pastime of cycling to some good and in 2012 established the annual Brother Shamus Charity Bike Ride. After going through a routine health check in 2013, he was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer which later spread to his lungs. Now, in remission, Brother Shamus continues his annual bike ride in hopes of spreading the word about rural poverty, the power of prayer and how life can be lived after a cancer diagnosis.
Brother Shamus credits his miraculous cancer recovery to the mercy of the Lord and the Saint Francis University Cancer Care Program. "I wouldn't have been able to ride one mile without the training and care of the students in the Master of Cancer Care Program at SFU," he said.
About the Dorothy Day Outreach Center at Saint Francis University
The Dorothy Day Outreach Center, created in 1981, is a volunteer-based agency on the Saint Francis University campus in Loretto, PA that strives to serve the local community while honoring its Franciscan values and by following in the footsteps of its namesake: Dorothy Day.
Through the generosity of the campus community and several local parishes, the center serves local families in need with support, programs, food, clothing and monetary assistance. The DDOC has initiatives geared toward children, the elderly, veterans, the poor, and people with special needs. With the assistance of agencies and volunteers, the DDOC has helped more than 1,500 families in need.
Learn more at https://www.francis.edu/Brother-Shamus-Charity-Ride/
Saint Francis University
Marie Young (814) 472-3127 myoung@francis.edu, Erin McCloskey (814) 472-3938 emcccloskey@francis.eduShare this Story
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