On April 1, Rae Heim, an 18-year-old recent high school graduate from Iowa, set out from Boston, MA, in what she hopes will be an historic and epic achievement. Rae is trying to become the first female to ever run solo across the United States of America. She hopes to finish her approximately 3,000 mile run on August 13, 2012. Rae will be running the equivalent of a marathon each day for the next 4½ months.

What’s most amazing, almost difficult to comprehend, is that Rae will be running barefoot.

Rae is running barefoot to bring attention to those soles throughout the world who have no shoes at all. She is raising assistance for a Christian organization called ‘Soles4Souls’.

As Rae moves across America, whenever possible she will be staying with local families who have agreed to host her for an evening. Two families from Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Willimantic, CT, agreed to have Rae stay with them in their homes for an evening.

On Monday, April 2, just two days into her cross-country odyssey, Rae was hosted by Jason and Denise Geeza, along with their 18-year-old daughter, Rachel.

On Tuesday, April 3, Rae will run from Brooklyn, CT, to Columbia. She will be hosted by Holy Trinity parishioners Nicholas and Dot Sinchuk in their home.

This is a most unique opportunity for Holy Trinity parishioners to reach out and assist others in need. Our community is most blessed.