CHRISTUS event offers entertainment for family
Run with the Nuns has big plans for the weekend to support a mission to help children.
The 2014 annual Run with the Nuns VIII will be held Oct. 17 and 18 in the Red River District.
The two-day family event, which was inspired by an annual “Nun Run” event for bikers in Houston, will have something for everyone in the family.
“Our mission statement is ‘we love our children and believe our highest calling is to do right by them,’” Sister Sharon Rambin, CHRISTUS community health manager and RWTN chair, said.
“We want to keep all children in our community healthy and safe.”
The proceeds from the event will benefit local children’s health programs including Cara Center for abused children, the Gingerbread House and other school-based health centers. While there will be plenty of activities and services for the adults attending, the RWTN event will make a special effort this year to bring entertainment for the children.
Friday night will be jumpstarted with a free children’s festival featuring the hit movie “Frozen” on an outdoor screen, as well as food, bingo and other games.
Making an appearance for the night will be the “Frozen” princesses and Olaf the snowman. Included in the Friday night festivities will also be Painting with a Purpose hosted by Painting with a Twist and a Voodoo Bayou Concert at 7 p.m.
Saturday is packed full beginning at 8 a.m. for registration, vendors, games, RWTN store and the opening of the silent auction. The Biker Breakfast, provided by Shaver’s, will also be held at 8 a.m. At 9 a.m., there will be a Blessing of the Bikes with Bishop Duca and Msgr. Earl Provenza. Duca and Provenza will bless the bikers and all participants and everyone will receive a religious medal of Blessed Theresa of Calcutta – then the motorcycles will be blessed as they begin their ride.
There will also be the presentation of a Humanitarian Award at 9 a.m. to Brother’s Keepers, a group of biker firemen who raise funds and staff the children’s burn camp in east Texas. Sister Marilyn Millar will lead the bikers and nuns on their guided ride at 9:30 a.m. Millar is a missionary nurse from Los Angeles who took care of malnourished infants and young children in third world countries and will be the lead nun in the rally.
Earshot Graffiti will perform at 11 a.m. followed by the biker lunch at 11:30.
The live auction begins at 12:30 p.m. and will include a number of items. Included in those items are a 2012 Harley Davidson Custom Motorcycle, a Polaris Ranger 400 4X4, a collection of more than 20,000 sports cards (baseball, basketball, hockey and more), an autographed baseball from Nolan Ryan, autographed football from Roger Staubach, autographed football from Drew Brees and Jimmy Graham, a handmade biker quilt, a new Honda EU 2000 generator, a Coolster QG-210 dirt bike, a bedroom suite with a hand-painted designed full size headboard, nightstand and rocking chair (including a mattress and box spring from Ivan Smith Furniture), an authentic World War II Military Field Officer’s jacket, an authentic World War II Medic’s jacket, a barbecue grill and trailer (valued at $3,000) – plus a gift certificate from Brookshires, a biker rocking chair, a biker wooden cross created by a local artist and more.
Rambin said guests should expect good food, terrific music, great bargains and fun-loving nuns and bikers. There will also be over 50 gift baskets up for bid during the silent auction.
–Katie Ho
LEARN MORE:
To register for Painting with a Purpose, call 524-9928 or visit www. paintingwithatwist.com/shreveport. Registration is $35 for the bike ride and includes a T-shirt, breakfast and lunch. Visit www.runwiththenuns.com or call 681-6100.
