FAIRFIELD, Conn.— Shane Finn, a Sacred Heart University in Dingle adjunct instructor and ultra-athlete, began a 36-day journey on March 29 from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Brooklyn Bridge by foot and bicycle to raise money for people living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus (SBH). The goal of the “American Ultra” is to raise $280,000 for Irish organization Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland (SBHI).
Finn will meet up with SHU junior nursing student Ryan Litwin on Thursday, May 2, and they will run together to the main campus on Park Avenue in Fairfield where they will be welcomed by the SHU community. Litwin, a cancer survivor, is embarking on a journey of his own across the country this summer to raise money for the Ulman Foundation, an organization that provides a community of support for young adults who are impacted by cancer and their loved ones. The two will join up in solidarity for each other’s mission.
Finn’s journey has consisted of cycling 168 miles for three consecutive days and running nearly 40 miles a day for three consecutive days, and then repeating the pattern six times with no days of rest. “If I fall off my bike, it’s all over,” said Finn.
At just 26-years old, he is candid in his preparation of what could be the most taxing physical and mental undertaking of his life. “It’s just you against you,” he says, explaining that his success is dependent on a positive mindset. He is inspired by his cousin Mary who lives with SBH. The two grew up together and share a very special bond.
Prior to spearheading the American Ultra, Finn spent a large portion of his life raising money for SBHI. He dedicates his time to the Irish community, working to garner resources that will aid individuals and families affected by the condition. The $280,000 raised by Finn and his team will impact the future of SBHI and help to change lives of those living with the disability, along with their families and volunteers.
For additional information on Finn’s journey and a link to donate, visit www.shanefinn.com.
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About Sacred Heart University
As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 80 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus, which is located about an hour from Manhattan and 2.5 hours from Boston. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland. More than 8,500 students attend the University’s eight colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education; the Jack Welch College of Business; Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, yet at the same time develops students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives and professions and in their communities. A spirit of service, entrepreneurship and social justice is the essence of who we are and can be seen inside and outside the classroom as students learn how to make a difference far beyond Fairfield. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 384 Colleges–2019 Edition, “Best in the Northeast” and Best 267 Business Schools–2018 Edition. It also placed SHU on its lists for “Happiest Students” and “Most Engaged in Community Service,” each of which comprises only 20 U.S. schools. Sacred Heart has a Division I athletics program. www.sacredheart.edu