Participants in a summer-long cross-country bicycle trip to combat world hunger were honored yesterday at a reception hosted by dean of Student Archie C. Epps III.

In the so-called "Ride for Life," 36 riders, including 33 Harvard undergraduates, bicycled 4,356 miles across the U.S. to increase hunger awareness and to raise funds for Oxford America's relief efforts.

"Their achievement is a marvelous example of student philanthropy and public service of which we're enormously proud," Epps said, as he mingled with bikers, Oxfam officials and House Masters in the Kirkland House junior conference room.

Epps said that over $70,000 in contributions had been pledged for Oxfam to date. A third of that amount has been received already, and contributions are arriving at the rate of $1,000 per day, he said.

For the riders, the reception was a festive occasion to look back on the summer's events. They watched clips from television coverage of the ride, including scenes from their tour of Shea Stadium set to the theme of "Chariots of Fire."

Meanwhile, ride participant R. Brad Dalton '85 played songs the group had composed on their trip on the Kirkland House grand piano. The Radcliffe Pitches joined in the entertainment with several numbers of their own.