On Sunday, Aug. 2 a group of fraternity men will be in Roanoke as a stop on the journey of their lives. This group of 20 cyclists and 8 crew members are participating in The Ability Experience’s Journey of Hope, a 4,200-mile cycling event across the country. From Seattle to Washington D.C., these men will be cycling to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities.
The Journey of Hope team consists of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity men from across the country. The team will cycle an average of 75 miles per day ending at the National Capitol on August 8. Every cyclist commits to raising a minimum of $5,500 on behalf of people with disabilities in hopes to enhance their quality of life.
This year, we have four team members—Matthew Bryant, Josh Mensinger, Alex Emeigh and Gabe Miranda—who are Virginia natives who attend or graduated from Virginia universities.
After a 70-mile trek, the team will have a Friendship Visit at 5:00 p.m. with Down Syndrome Association of Roanoke (DSAR) at the Mill Mountain Zoo. DSAR is an organization that provides advocacy, educational and support services for families and friends of individuals with Down Syndrome. The following day, August 3, the team will have a Friendship Visit at 5:00 p.m. with Camp Easter Seals UCP, an overnight camp for children and adults with disabilities.
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. The Ability Experience organizes Journey of Hope each summer, along with other events, in order to raise funds and promote the abilities of all people. It is the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, who founded the organization in 1977 to commit themselves to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities.
The Ability Experience and Pi Kappa Phi have raised over $15 million on behalf of people with disabilities and continue to be on the cutting edge of the disability movement.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Love at (980) 318-5392.
