FCC News Desk

A small team from Outreach to Haiti is taking part in a five-day, 337-mile bike ride, touching five of the six New England states and climbing more than 13,000 feet.  The ride started Monday, Sept. 16, and its purpose is to raise awareness and funds to support the mission in Haiti.

On the morning of Sept. 19, the riders visited the Cathedral of St. Patrick in Norwich, and were greeted by students from St. Patrick Cathedral School. Joining them were the Most Reverend Michael R. Cote, Bishop of Norwich and Outreach to Haiti Executive Director Susan Wallace.

Gallery: Bike Riders Visit St. Patrick School Students in Norwich

The specific goal of this year's ride is again to raise money for the rebuilding effort in Haiti. Construction of the Outreach Center is well underway.

See pictures of the rebuilding effort

Outreach to Haiti has raised most of the money for the building, but increasing construction costs, as well as more robust plans to protect further against earthquakes, has increased the cost of the structure and additional fund-raising is needed.

This is the fifth annual bike ride. In the first four years, Outreach to Haiti raised almost $70,000. 

The bike ride has been planned as a "virtual trip" across Haiti. The distance chosen for the trip is the distance from Jeremie on the West Coast of Haiti, through the capital city of Port-au-Prince (where OTH is based) to Cap-Haitien on the North Coast, as shown in the picture below.

In the interest of time and money, (and for better roads and, hopefully, better weather) the actual ride is in New England.

It started at Kittery, Maine, and is making its way down into and through New Hampshire, will pass Boston, head into northwestern Rhode Island, and end by winding through the eastern and central parts of Connecticut.

The riders will also visit Mercy High School in Middletown and St Patrick's in Farmington.  

You can donate by using the link below, or by sending a check to Outreach to Haiti, 815 Boswell Ave., Norwich, CT 06360. Any questions, call (860) 800-3601.