Saturday, August 19, 2006 marked the 3rd annual Bike Ride/Walk for IOCC held at E. B. Rains Memorial Park in Northglenn, Colorado. This annual local event was inspired by the 2002 Race to Respond during which the Colorado area pan-orthodox community met the cross-country cyclists at Loveland, Colorado during their coast to coast 25 day ride from New York to California to raise awareness during IOCC's 10th anniversary.
On the morning of the 19th, as the signs were being put up on the bike trail and the flags were set along the walking trail by the lake, it was evident that this was not a typical Colorado blue sky day. Nevertheless,under cover of the park pavilion, Fr. Lou Christopoulos and Fr. Nicholas Dotson held the Blessing of the Five Loaves prayer service, also done annually to pray for those in need--that they may not suffer from hunger or lack of shelter but that their basic needs may be met and that they may be able to experience love and renewed hope in their lives. During the prayer service, the steady morning drizzle had turned into a downpour of heavy rain. Remarkably and miraculously, as soon as the prayers ended the rain also ceased and a courageous group of 40 plus people were able to carry on with a very pleasant 12k bicylcle ride and a cool walk around the lake.
As in prior years, this group represented nine parishes from Greek Orthodox, Antiochian and Orthodox Church in America jurisdictions, typically raising between four to six thousand dollars a year for IOCC.
