‘Journey of Hope’ cyclists in Rockford July 24

From press release

Saturday, July 24, a team of cyclists participating in the “Journey of Hope” will arrive in Rockford as part of a nine-week, 4,000-mile cycling event across the country to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities.

The team will arrive at Saturn of Rockford at 2 p.m. followed by dinner provided by Saturn of Rockford.

Journey of Hope is a program of Push America, the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, which raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities.

The Journey of Hope team consists of men from Pi Kappa Phi chapters across the country. The team will cycle an average of 75 miles per day, from San Francisco (North and South) and Seattle (TransAmerica) to Washington, D.C., where they will arrive Aug. 14.

At stops across the country, the three routes will distribute grants directly to assist organizations in serving people with disabilities along with spending time with the new friends in events called Friendship Visits, which are events such as dances or barbecues in which everyone can participate.

The time spent with the people for whom these young men ride is what makes the trip special; an afternoon spent together can make both team members and participants look past any disabilities, and focus solely on the person.

Push America was founded in 1977 with the hope of committing its members to enhance the lives of people with disabilities. With the combined efforts of sponsors and individual team members, this year’s Journey of Hope has raised more than $500,000 on behalf of people with disabilities. Push America and Pi Kappa Phi have raised more than $13 million to date, and continue to be on the cutting edge of the disability movement.

For more information about this event or more about Push America’s summer programs, contact Joey Haynes at (704) 504-2400, ext. 159, or log on to pushamerica.org.

From the July 21-27, 2010 issue