5K race in Connecticut raises funds for children of Chornobyl (11/03/02)

5K race in Connecticut raises funds for children of Chornobyl

by Alex Kuzma

DANBURY, Conn. - At a time when many Ukrainian churches are in despair over their declining membership and their waning community life, it may be worth taking a closer look at a tiny parish in Danbury, Conn., that has grown in stature and visibility. By setting ambitious goals and intensifying its charitable activities, the parish has experienced a remarkable renaissance that has inspired new confidence in its members and support from the surrounding community.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, with just 40 families, is located across the street from Western Connecticut State University. In 1996, under the leadership of a young priest, the Rev. Luke Mihaly, and a dynamic parish committee, the parish held a retreat in Lenox, Mass., where the members resolved to "break out into the community" by defying their small numbers and hosting large-scale and highly visible public events.

In evaluating the most popular kind of activity in the Danbury area, the parishioners decided to stage a 5-kilometer road race beginning at the entrance of the church and winding its way through the picturesque streets aligning the WCSU campus.

Over the past six years, the Holy Trinity 5K Road Race has become a popular event in the late summer, drawing hundreds of avid runners from Danbury, Ridgefield and surrounding communities, and guests from as far away as Colorado and Georgia.

Holy Trinity Parish has raised thousands of dollars for the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, not only through the road race, but also through benefit concerts, varenyky sales and other innovative projects.

"This has been a real winner for us," says the Rev. Mihaly. "It has absolutely sparked a lot of interest in our community and has also drawn us into the mainstream of community life here in the Danbury area."

The ongoing six-year campaign for the Children of Chornobyl has mobilized hundreds of volunteers from various age groups and from many cultural backgrounds, including Irish, Brazilian, Puerto Rican, Greek and Italian. The campaign has also attracted extensive news coverage in the Danbury News-Times, The Ukrainian Weekly, America and other publications.

The most recent race was held on Ukrainian Independence Day, August 24, with a field of 115 runners, as young as 12 and as old as 73. The organizing committee, led by Jim Zeleniak, secured corporate sponsorships from Wachovia Securities, Evian Water, the Colorado Brewery and Steak House, Joseph A. Bank Clothiers and The Ashford Group.

This year' s winner was Danbury resident Sergio Ribeiro, who finished the course in 15 minutes, 28 seconds, (roughly at the pace of 5-minute miles). Mr. Ribeiro was 30 seconds off his course record of 14:58 set in 1998, but he was suffering from an inflamed foot that required a cortisone shot earlier in the week. The overall winner in the women's field was Kathy Kost who finished in 22:02.

Holy Trinity Parish has now become a part of the fabric of community life in Danbury. The church's support for the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund has re-energized its membership and the road race has spawned a whole slew of new activities.

"We are averaging one major activity per month," said the Rev. Mihaly, "and the visibility and good will that this has generated has led to generous contributions to the construction of our new church in the Danbury area." He added "Each year, the entire parish takes part in a retreat to reassess its goals and strategy and to revitalize its spiritual life."

Considering the size of this parish and how much it has accomplished in the past six years, the Holy Trinity Orthodox Church has begun to resemble the "Little Engine That Could" - a church community that could defy the odds by recognizing the potential of each of its members.

For more information on the Holy Trinity community campaign, please contact the Rev. Mihaly, (203) 748-0671. To make a tax-deductible contribution to the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund, please write to CCRF, 272 Old Short Hills Road, Short Hills, NJ 07078, or call (973) 376-5140.

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