SEATTLE – On Thursday, May 31 at 8 a.m., a team of cyclists participating in the 25th Journey of Hope, presented by KRG Capital, departed from Seattle as part of a nine-week, 4,000-mile cycling event across the country to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities.
Before departing, the TransAmerica team trained in Seattle for four days, including a dinner and Friendship Visit with the Arc of King County on Tuesday, May 29 at 6 p.m. at Olympic Sculpture Park on the “The Trust for Public Land Terrace.” The Arc of King County assists children and adults with developmental disabilities.
The team had a practice ride at Sammamish Lake on the morning of May 30 and that evening enjoyed a kick-off dinner at Buca Di Beppo at 5:30 p.m.
On the morning of May 31, the team began the day with breakfast at Olympic Sculpture Park at 7 a.m. After the breakfast, the team departed for their first stop in Enumclaw.
The 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, beginning in Seattle and ending in Washington, D.C. on August 13. This year is very special because it marks the 25th Anniversary of Journey of Hope and the 35th Anniversary of Push America.
For the team, the real journey will not be on a bike, but spending time with the people for whom they are riding. The Journey of Hope team members will spend every afternoon with people with disabilities in many different community events and activities called friendship visits. These men are striving for community inclusion of people with disabilities and are helping to break the barriers of society that keep people of all abilities from living life to the fullest.
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 will raise more than $500,000 on behalf of people with disabilities. Push America and Pi Kappa Phi have raised over $15 million to date and continue to be on the cutting edge of the disability movement.
For more information about this event or more on Push America’s summer programs, please contact Paul Willar at (704) 504-2400 ext. 159 or log on to http://www.pushamerica.org.
