R4VP

Race 4 Veronika’s Place is Saving Lives

Volunteers of Veronika's Place welcome
travelers, dancing on the parish grounds.

Arriving at Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, Kenya for Veronika’s Place, the food distribution ministry to 400 men, women, and children with HIV/AIDS, is like entering a celebration for life. We are greeted at the gate of the parish with song, hugs, and smiles. Immediately, our travelers are put to ease by the hospitality of the beautiful people of Dandora, and we process through the parish grounds dancing and singing.

Veronika Lineberry Manzella, a parishioner of St. Monica, was determined to bring awareness to the struggles of the people of Dandora. She raised funds for the Brother Andre Dispensary and the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Clinic (VCT). And in 2007, following Veronika’s untimely passing, the people of Dandora dedicated the VCT Clinic in her honor and renamed it “Veronika’s Place.”

Nancy and Little Trevor wait patiently
for the food provided by Veronika's Place.

Veronika’s Place offers counseling, education, support, and most importantly food to people with the greatest needs in our sister parish. With droughts and food prices rising, Holy Cross Africa Ministry has struggled to raise money to continue to feed these people. But God is always good! We have been fortunate to have friends that have helped us to bring food to their plates throughout the years.

After last year’s parish trip to Kenya, one of our high school students, Kyle Paris, wanted to do something big for Dandora. With the help of his father, Kevin Paris, and friends, Arthur Fitzmaurice and Peter Heller, he set out to form Race 4 Veronika’s Place, an official charity of the LA Marathon and began to recruit myself and others to join the team. Twenty three people ran or walked the 2013 ASICS LA Marathon, and the LA Big 5 K. We were able to reach our goal and raised the annual budget to feed 400 needy people in Dandora. It was for me an amazing accomplishment, not only to complete the LA Marathon, but to have in my mind, those lives we have touched; the lives we have saved.

Kyle in a friendly race at Holy Cross Parish Dandora.

We have been chosen, for the second year, to be an official charity of the 2014 ASICS LA Marathon, taking place on March 9^th. We are hoping to be able to recruit more runners and raise additional funds to continue to support Veronika’s Place. There are many ways to become a part of Race 4 Veronika’s Place, we are recruiting runners, walkers, prayer warriors, dj’s and a cheer squad.

2013 LA Marathon and LA Big 5K, Race 4 Veronika's Place