More than 3500 miles through their 5000-mile journey, Fr. Matthew Ruhl, S.J. and his Cycling for Change team will be arriving at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at  Angola on  August 8 at 4:00 p.m.  

 

Fr. Ruhl and the fourteen people who have traveled by bicycle with him from Cape Flattery, WA on their way to Key West, FL, will see much of the 18,000 acre prison farm including the now condemned  disciplinary area (actively used until the 1970’s) and the current execution facilities. They will then share a meal and conversation with some of the inmates before Fr. Ruhl celebrates a Catholic Mass with some of the inmates.

Inspired after reading Catholic Charities USA’s Campaign to Reduce Poverty – a plan to cut poverty in half by 2020 – Fr. Ruhl decided to combine his passion for helping the poor with his passion for cycling to promote this plan to reduce poverty – thus, Cycling for Change was born. 

“It was important to me that we cycle through Louisiana on this ride addressing the root causes of poverty,” explains Fr. Matt. “Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the nation and because of that they have the highest per capita incarceration rate of any other state - or in fact - country in the world. The idea that Louisiana uses third grade reading levels to gauge the number of prison cells they will need in the future is horrifying to me. It should be to every American.’

Fr. Ruhl is accompanied by 11 other cyclists and a support team of four. The 12 cyclists come from all walks of life; ranging in age from 24 to 63, they are lawyers, doctors, social workers, photographers and retired volunteers. What motivates them to walk away from their families and careers for 100 grueling days on a bike? As Fr. Ruhl puts it, “It’s about the poor. It’s believing that we have to address the epidemic of poverty in this country – and we have to do it now.”

Hundreds of additional riders are joining segments of the ride as it moves across the country. Events supporting the cause are being held in many of the 85 cities along the route. For more information or to arrange an interview with Fr. Ruhl contact Kathleen Conwell at 816.674.6800 or Carol Spruell at 225.303.1431. 

 

For a detailed route, other information, or to see exactly where Fr. Ruhl is today, visit: www.cyclingforchange.org.