CV NEWS FEED // A Catholic international pro-life ministry this week announced its annual “A-Cross America Relay,” a series of 5K runs that will follow routes tracing a Cross over America to promote the pro-life cause.
“Join the largest spanning Pro-Life event with 1,476 legs covering 5,183 miles (12 million steps)!” reads an Aug. 5 news release from LIFE Runners.
Participants can share the pro-life message by wearing LIFE Runners’ jersey bearing the words “REMEMBER The Unborn” as they participate in one or more of the 5K legs in the relay that spans over 43 days and starts Sept. 7.
Before the first legs of the 5K begin, the western route will launch in San Francisco with a Sept. 6 event where participants will pray outside of the city’s Planned Parenthood and then walk a one-mile route flying a “REMEMBER The Unborn” banner, according to the “A-Cross America Relay” webpage.
The other three routes will begin with similar pray-and-walk events during the next several days in their respective locations, which can be found here.
The upcoming relay is sponsored by the Archdiocese of San Francisco, Benedictine College, the Diocese of Austin, the Diocese of Fargo, EWTN, and the Thomas More Society, among others, according to the news release.
Dr. Patrick Castle founded LIFE Runners in 2008, and the ministry’s first relay took place in 2013, according to the ministry’s “History” webpage. The ministry now promotes the pro-life cause in almost 50 nations.
According to LIFE Runners’ “Chapters” webpage, “78% of post-abortion mothers said if they had encountered ONE supportive person or encouraging message, they would have chosen life.” LIFE Runners aims to promote pro-life resources and messaging especially through the witness of the jerseys. There are a total of 313 LIFE Runners Chapters across 47 countries, with more than 23,600 teammates.
The LIFE Runners’ Creed, which invokes the intercession of Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Padre Pio, and St. Michael the Archangel, can be found here. The LIFE Runners have adopted St. Padre Pio as their patron saint.
The promo code LIFER can be used for a free relay registration at liferunners.org/across.
