Dan O'Sullivan was looking for a different type of fundraiser to bring renewed awareness to the capital campaign to rebuild the Diocese of Norwich's Outreach to Haiti facilities destroyed in the 2010 earthquake.

O'Sullivan, a lifelong bicyclist, looked at a map of Haiti and devised a plan to imitate what would be a bike ride across Haiti from Cap Haitien in the northwest corner to Jeremie in the southwest tip of the island nation.

O'Sullivan of Killingworth and Tom Campbell of Farmington, an Outreach to Haiti board member, will get on their bikes Monday for a six-day, five-state “Ride to Rebuild” fundraiser bicycle tour of New England beginning in Kittery, Maine, and winding through New England, ending with stops at 11 Connecticut Catholic parishes that have ties to churches and organizations in Haiti.

O'Sullivan said while he and Campbell will make the entire trip, other riders will join them for parts of the trip in various locations. The group hopes to raise $20,000 toward the $350,000 needed to rebuild the Outreach to Haiti facility – which will house a medical clinic on the first floor and a guest house for international volunteers on the second floor.

The capital campaign has raised $220,000 for the project thus far, and the bike tour has raised $3,892 toward its $20,000 goal, O'Sullivan said.

They expect to reach southeastern Connecticut Thursday, stopping at the Cathedral of St. Patrick at 10:45 a.m. and moving on to St. John the Evangelist in Uncasville at 11:45 a.m., and Sacred Heart in Groton by 12:45 p.m. before heading to St. Mark the Evangelist in Westbrook.

Donations to Ride to Rebuild can be made online at http://outreachtohaiti.org/ride-to-rebuild. For information, call the Outreach to Haiti office at (860) 887-1019 ext. 819.

c.bessette@theday.com

Twitter: @Bessettetheday