x
Breaking News
More () »

Missionary riding bicycle 6,000 miles for nephew with down syndrome

The goal is to open up a cafe on the Northshore that would employ people with special needs.

NEW ORLEANS — A New Orleans man is getting ready to ride his bike all across the country for his nephew who has down syndrome. The goal is to open up a cafe on the Northshore that would employ people with special needs.      

Brother Chris Sweeney is a Brother of Sacred Heart and a missionary who spent 12 years in Africa.

He took a year sabbatical to have a knee replacement surgery last summer, but now is using that time for a personal mission.

"I've been wanting to do a long tour for many years because I started riding a bike because of my own physical issues," Brother Sweeney said.

His knee surgery stemmed from physical challenges he's had since childhood.

"I was born with a club foot and a missing nerve down my right leg so I couldn't run and walk like most people so my parents bought me a bike and I started riding when I was really young," Brother Sweeney said.

March 1 he'll begin a five months journey biking 6,000 miles from New Orleans to the east coast, Washington D.C., Seattle, and finally San Francisco.

"I'll be sleeping in campgrounds. I have my sleeping bag," he said.

This journey isn't for him though. It's for his nephew.

"I say he's got the gift of making people smile because you can’t help but smiling when you're around Reid," Brother Sweeney said.

Seven-year-old Reid has down syndrome and lives in Madisonville. Brother Sweeney wants to open a cafe on the Northshore that would employ kids and adults like Reid who have special needs.

"We don't have that here," he said.

He was inspired by Bitty & Beau's Coffee Shop which has 24 locations across the country and does just that.

"You go into those restaurants knowing you'll be served by someone with special needs," he said.

Through his ride, he hopes to raise $100,000 to open either a Bitty & Beau franchise or something like it on the Northshore. He would like to call it Reid Rocks Cafe. He's already raised $40,000. That all goes to the Reid Rocks Fund. His ride expenses are already taken care of.

"I've been financed by family, friends, Brothers of the Sacred Heart," Brother Sweeney said.

His ride will end in July. If he reaches his goal, the next mission will be to open Reid Rocks Cafe to give Reid and many others a place to work one day.

Sweeney begins his journey at 8 a.m. March 1 from New Orleans.

You can follow his journey at the Ride for Reid Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rideforreid

For more on his mission or to donate to his cause click HERE: https://www.northshorefoundation.org/reid-rocks-fund?fbclid=IwAR2peDaBmgLTW9nQ0cKkKDvakKWwaBnZpZhgeNWVANRRjGf6d5Gcg8olFjk

Before You Leave, Check This Out