On June 16, Austin residents gathered to greet the Journey of Hope Northern Route Team, consisting of 22 cyclists and six crew members, as they stopped for the evening on their 4,370-mile summer-long journey from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., which will end at the National Capitol on August 10.
The team will stop in over 50 different cities as they go along, and they average 75 miles per day.
The group, collegiate members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity from across the nation, is one of three teams making the “friendship visits,” and every cyclist has committed to raising a minimum of $6,000 on behalf of people with disabilities.
Now in its 32nd year, the event is organized by The Ability Experience, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi.
Public Relations and Logistics Intern Austin Cartee stated, “The friendship visits give the cyclists the opportunity to connect with individuals as a way of breaking barriers and highlighting the abilities of all people. The mission of The Ability Experience is to use shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders.”
Founded in 1977, The Ability Experience is committed to raising funds and public awareness on behalf of people with disabilities. Combined with corporate sponsorships, the 2019 Journey of Hope will raise more than $750,000 for people with disabilities across the nation.
