The 20th Annual Lutheran Charities Bike Ride & Walk took place on Saturday, June 26, 2010.
A total of 150 bikers and walkers participated, the largest number ever to take part in the event which benefits the social ministry agencies of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
More than 60 volunteers from area Lutheran churches and agencies helped everything run smoothly. St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Audubon hosted registration and lunch. Other churches that provided rest stops for bikers included St. Matthew Lutheran in Chester Springs, Augustus Lutheran in Trappe, Advent Lutheran in Harleysville, and St. John Lutheran in Phoenixville.
All proceeds from this event benefit the Lutheran Charities agencies including Artman Lutheran Home, Lutheran Children and Family Service, KenCrest Centers, Paul’s Run Retirement Community, Manatawny Manor, Lutheran Settlement House, The Mary J. Drexel Home, and Silver Springs-Martin Luther School. The event was supported by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Nolan Design, and Bikesport. Pledges gathered by bikers and their individual sponsors raise funds for Lutheran Charities.
MANY THANKS TO ALL BIKERS, WALKERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND SPONSORS!


Each June, Pastor Gordon Simmons hops on his bike to ride over 60 miles for Lutheran Charities, the social ministry agencies of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He is joined by more than 100 bikers of all ages who ride through Chester and Montgomery counties to raise funds for eight Lutheran Charities agencies.
As Pastor at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Wallingford, PA, Simmons usually cycles to work and appointments, and has biked for most of the 18 years that the SteepleChase has been held. His fellow SteepleChase bikers have included teams from local churches, cyclists on tandem bikes, and families with three generations riding.
Lutheran Charities agencies benefiting from the SteepleChase Bike Ride include Artman Lutheran Home, KenCrest Centers, Lutheran Children & Family Service, Lutheran Settlement House, Manatawny Manor, The Mary J. Drexel Home, Paul’s Run Retirement Community, and Silver Springs-Martin Luther School.
“The SteepleChase Bike Ride is a great way for congregations and families to help those in need,” says Pastor Simmons. “I hope even more bikers will join us for the ride this year on June 27!”