A pilgrimage on bike to help Aleppo

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A pilgrimage on bike to help Aleppo

Frank Hearns, Commander with Star of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, has been a member of Lieutenancy for Ireland since 2001. During his military career he was part of three United Nations peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and between 1970 and 1972, Frank and his wife Margaret lived in Jerusalem from where they often visited Syria.

The sad situation in Syria and the devastating violence that struck the city of Aleppo has deeply moved this couple and the conviction that crying for the children of this city was not enough pushed Frank Hearns, Seamus Greenan and his wife Nurse Mags Greenan – accompanied by Martin and Terry Treacy driving the support car – to embark on bicycle pilgrimage from Dublin to Rome with the goal of collecting € 100,000 for this cause.

Both goals of their mission were achieved: thanks to the generosity of the members of Lieutenancy and other friends more than the originally hoped for amount was sent to the Franciscan friars and the Carmelite Sisters of Aleppo and on June 28 the three cyclists reached Rome where they were greeted by the Grand Master, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, during the meeting of European Lieutenants who were able to informally welcome and share a convivial meal with these generous and audacious pilgrims.
 

(Fall 2017)