Thank You From Fr. Mike! - October 2020

Thank you to everyone for supporting me throughout the 26.2 miles of my personal marathon for Heart to Heart on Sunday, October 11! Your prayers, along with the wonderful support of parishioners cheering me on, helped me get to the finish line in 5 hours and 8 minutes.

I am so thankful that so many volunteers and parishioners came out to cheer me on and to help staff the different stations around our Edgewater neighborhood. I am grateful also to the staff of St. Gertrude Parish for their assistance and encouragement.

As of Sunday, November 15, more than 300 people have donated $23,661.15 to Heart to Heart for my run! Thank you for your generous support and your contributions to Heart to Heart.

Gratefully,

Father Mike Bradley

• Click HERE for a photo gallery from Fr. Mike's Run for Heart to Heart
• Click HERE to donate to Fr. Mike's Run

Even though the Chicago Marathon will not occur this year, Fr. Mike Bradley WILL run a personal marathon right here in the neighborhood to benefit the Heart-to-Heart Ministries! On Sunday, October 11 at 6:00 am, Fr. Mike will start his run at the front entrance of the Rectory and run the 26.2 miles here in a specially designed Edgewater course.

Click HERE to see an updated Google map where he's running and HERE for a downloadable flyer (updated 9/30). There will be four different legs of his run, with the Church corner (Granville and Glenwood) being the center of it. He will run the route four times to complete the 26.2 miles. 

Please consider being part of the Fr. Mike Marathon Support Team! Here are some ways to help!

• Make a donation to support his run HERE.
• We are looking for parishioners willing to be stationed at specified locations along the route to provide him with water and some nutritious snacks to get him through the run. 
• Purchase a t-shirt.
• Purchase a lawn sign. 

Order a Father Mike marathon t-shirt for $20! The t-shirts with the above logo are available at the Rectory.

 Fr. Mike Bradley will run 26.2 miles through the streets of Edgewater for Heart to Heart on Sunday, October 11! Beginning at 6:00 am, Fr. Mike will start his endeavor at Glenwood and Granville.

A route is pictured above, or you can click HERE to see where he's running. There will be four different legs of his run, with the Church corner (Granville and Glenwood) being the center of it. He will run the route four times to complete the 26.2 miles.

Leg 1

• Starting point - the church corner of Granville and Glenwood
• West to Clark
• North on Clark to Highland
• East on Highland to Glenwood
• Back to the church

Leg 2

• East on Granville to Sheridan Road
• South on Sheridan Road to Glenlake
• West on Glenlake to Glenwood
• North on Glenwood to Granville
• Back to the church

Leg 3

• West on Granville to Greenview
• South on Greenview to Elmdale
• East on Elmdale to Broadway
• North on Broadway to Glenlake
• East on Glenlake to Sheridan
• North on Sheridan to Granville
• West on Granville to Glenwood
• Back to the church

Leg 4

• North on Glenwood to Rosemont
• East on Rosemont to Broadway
• South on Broadway to Granville
• West on Granville to Glenwood
• Back to the church

There will be two official cheering stations for Fr. Mike - one at the church corner of Granville and Glennwood and a second at Elmdale and Glenwood - but come cheer him on anywhere along his route!

Please consider being part of the Fr. Mike Marathon Support Team! Here are some ways to help!

• Make a donation to support his run HERE.
• We are looking for parishioners willing to be stationed at specified locations along the route to provide him with water and some nutritious snacks to get him through the run. 
• Purchase a t-shirt.
• Purchase a lawn sign. 

Please return completed forms and payment for any ordered items to the Rectory office, drop this in the Sunday collection box, or email stgertrude1420@stgertrudechicago.org.  

The Heart to Heart is a ministry grown at St. Gertrude that serves some of our most vulnerable residents in Edgewater—our senior citizens. Staffed by director Jane Callahan-Moore, the outreach program’s mission is to help seniors who need minimal assistance to enable them to remain independent in their home. Heart to Heart completes assessments and connects our seniors in need to community services and agencies that can assist them with financial and home care functions. 

In addition, Heart to Heart volunteers offer a limited range of services. Volunteers drive them to doctors’ appointments, run errands, pick up prescriptions, pop in for a friendly visit to see how they are doing, check in with a phone call, or even walk the dog of a sick parishioner. With the help of these dedicated volunteers, we've been able to help hundreds of older persons live quality, dignified, independent lives in their own home. 

Equally as important as tending to basic needs is the human connection that Heart to Heart provides to the lonely, poor, or those in need. Social Services at St. Gertrude is about showing love and care to them through a listening ear, a smile, a kind word, a visit to break up a long day, or a helping hand. It’s about putting faith into action by loving our neighbors and tending to their needs. 

If you are a senior in need or care for an older person that may need Heart to Heart’s services, please call Jane Callahan-Moore at 773.973.5464 or email them at heart2heart@stgertrudechicago.org. Please note our updated email address!

Additionally, Heart to Heart offers a medical lending closet. Items available include walkers, with and without wheels, crutches, knee scooters, wheelchairs, and portable commodes. Please call 773.973.5464 for a list of available items or to schedule an appointment to pick-up or drop-off items. Donations of medical items are also accepted. 

Heart to Heart depends on the generosity of the Edgewater community to continue its work. Every October, multiple fundraisers are held, but in 2020, we only have Fr. Mike's marathon, the annual Heart to Heart play has to be canceled due to COVID. Please consider supporting our work by making a donation to Heart to Heart at the Rectory or online. Donations made with a check should be made payable to St. Gertrude Parish with Heart to Heart written in the memo line.