Denver Catholic

14 JUNE 11-24, 2016 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary 12801 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 425-9511 Mt. Olivet Cemetery 12801 W. 44th Ave. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 424-7785 St. Simeon Cemetery 22001 E. State Hwy. 30 Aurora, CO 80018 (720) 859-9785 • Professional, personalized service • Respectful • Compassionate The Archdiocese of Denver Cemeteries and Mortuary Caring for the faithful in Northern Colorado since 1893 in their most personal time of need. BY NISSA LAPOINT S ome avid cyclists pass the time with their favorite tunes or by chatting with fellow riders. During the Ride the Rockies Bicycle Tour, Leslie Prevish brings prayer intentions and her rosary. "It helps to be able to focus on pray- ing for someone else instead of on my own pain," said 47-year-old Prevish about the six-day Colorado bicycle tour. "And I say a lot of rosaries up and down the mountains. I know other people are praying for me and that helps, too." Prevish will ride once again with Team Samaritan House through 400 miles of steep grades and winding roads during the Ride the Rockies Colorado Tour June 11-17. The team dedicates their tour to raise awareness about Samaritan House shelter in Denver and encourage donations to provide meals and shelter through Catholic Charities' shelter programs. During Ride the Rockies, Prevish said every mile she pedals is a chance to grow in faith and pray for others in need. "I'm going to ride and pray and spread awareness," said Prevish, who lives in Boulder. "I think about the chal- lenges of homelessness. And anybody could have a circumstance in their life that causes them to end up homeless. It's important to help people in need and not judge because you don't know their story." Prevish said she can understand how easy it is to fall into homelessness. "My dad died when I was 8 years old," she said.• "My mom did the best she could to raise the four of us, but she struggled in several ways. Sometimes I think that we could have ended up homeless if it wasn't for our extended family in the area." In 2005, Prevish• decided it was time to• get back in shape. She lost 80 pounds, got back into running and started doing•triathlons. She's•finished three•Ironman triathlons since then.• "Doing triathlons helped me develop the mental toughness for the long days in the saddle during Ride the Rockies," Prevish said. "But there's a point after the second day of riding where you find an inner fortitude you never knew you had, and you realize that strength comes from God and the support of others around you." Prevish was drawn to the• team's camaraderie during training and tough rides. "We're such a strong Christian team, and it's wonderful to know you have the encouragement to keep going. Our team is a beacon of light for the homeless and each other," Prevish said. "As Mother Teresa said, the only cure for loneliness, despair and hopelessness is love." All funds the team raises go to Samaritan House, a downtown Denver shelter for men, women and families, along with The Mission shelter in Fort Collins and Guadalupe Community Center and Shelter in Greeley. In 2015, Catholic Charities provided 1,087,493 nights of shelter in emergency, transi- tional and permanent housing. Joining Prevish is a growing team— now in its sixth year with Ride the Rockies—of business executives, college graduates, mothers and fathers driven to give to the homeless. Tom Schwein, team captain, said they bike to make a positive impact on those experiencing homelessness. "My motivation for this ride is, and will be, knowing the dierence we can make in the lives of those less fortu- nate," he said. "Each dollar raised will truly change the lives of the individu- als and families who call these shelters home." The team will begin their tour in Carbondale before trekking up to 85 miles per day through Aspen, Vail, Sil- verthorne, Estes Park and finally Fort Collins—exceeding 29,000 feet in ele- vation gains. Prevish said she is taking prayer requests for her ride. She will tape a laminated list of intentions to her bike and carry them along with her. "The world is so noisy that it's a blessing to have time for reflection and prayer when you're on the bike," she said. "It would be wonderful for those who can't ride with us to support home- less shelters and those who are in great need." Ride the Rockies cyclist dedicates tour to homeless Leslie Prevish is one of the riders for Team Samaritan House, a cycling team that raises money for Catholic Charities in the annual Ride the Rockies event. PHOTOS PROVIDED

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