Parents to Carry Cross to Raise Money for School

Most parents would walk to the ends of the Earth for their children if called upon.

Four parents plan to walk 120 miles from Mission Basilica San Diego de Acala to Mission San Gabriel Arcángel — carrying a roughly 40-pound cross — to raise money for their children's education.

The Catholic elementary school has struggled in recent years, even combining its Monrovia and Arcadia campuses in 2010 to cut costs. The incident left second-grade parent Daren de Heras pondering ways he could help the school. 

An avid athlete, de Heras received his inspiration while training for the Spartan Death Race, an endurance competition in Vermont "comprised of mud runs, obstacle racing, and trail racing, physical challenges and mental challenges all in a 48-hour adventure race."

Tom McFadden — de Heras' trainer, Death Race partner and fellow Annunciation parent — forced him to carry a cross during several training runs.

"We were talking about schools and how badly schools needed funding," de Heras said of how he and McFadden hatched the idea of the MissionToMission walk. "It was Tom's idea to carry the cross that we had trained with."

Soon, de Heras convinced his girlfriend, Joie Harrison, and former Annunciation parent, Yesel Arvizu, to join in the walk.

But the group wanted to involve the general public, too.

They decided to incorporate a 5K and 10K walk into the MissionToMission cross carry, open to anyone who wishes to participate. The four will leave the San Diego Mission on April 3 with the goal of arriving at the San Gabriel Mission by 11 a.m. on April 7, Easter Saturday.

There, those taking part in the 10K walk will meet de Heras' group for the walk over to Live Oak Park in Temple City, where, at 1:30 p.m., the 5K walkers will join the crowd for the last leg of the journey, from the park to Annunciation.

The walkers will then attend Easter mass at Annunciation at 4 p.m.

Walkers can participate for as little as $30 or as much as $100. If you don't want to walk, but would like donate, you can give a flat donation of your choice.

(See the attached flyer for complete instructions on how to join the MissionToMission Walk.)

McFadden said the money raised will go to fund tuition for students from low-income families who might not otherwise have the opportunity to obtain a Catholic education.

"The jouney from San Diego to will be a great way to support the school as well as a way to gain some inner strength and grow myself spiritually, physically and emotionally," McFadden said.

Principal Norma Moreno lavished praise on the ICA school community, particularly its parents.

"The parents of ICA School are very supportive, caring, loyal, and committed to keeping ICA school open," Moreno said. "Although we are struggling with enrollment, we are very hopeful things will turn around. I believe in our parents!"

McFadden and de Heras "emulate Catholic identity. They are living proof that together we can achieve all obstacles. Having faith and staying focus on the school's mission and vision, and putting our hearts out there for the common good of all is what makes ICA a great School."