Journey of Hope rides through campus

Twenty-four members of the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity rode into the University of Toledo's Centennial Mall on bicycles yesterday morning, led by Toledo Mayor Mike Bell.

The fraternity was on one of their stops for their philanthropic Journey of Hope, a coast-to-coast bike expedition to raise money for children with disabilities. The cyclists began their summer journey on June 9 in San Francisco and will finish on August 14 in Washington, D.C. The Journey of Hope is part of Push America, an initiative started in 1987 by a member of Pi Kappa Phi in order to raise awareness and fund research for people with disabilities.

After riding 60 miles non-stop to get to UT, the cyclists were greeted with a ceremony in front of the Student Union Building. The event drew in several dozen members of the community, including members of the Phi Kappa Phi local chapters, as well as students and local political leaders.

Nick Jones, a junior at UT majoring in economics and part of the Journey of Hope, said that the experience has been both fun and meaningful.

"We've done a lot of things that have opened up our eyes to how people with disabilities do different things," Jones said.

When the cyclists arrive at each destination, they have scheduled visits with local disability centers in the area. The cyclists have played wheelchair basketball, wheelchair hockey, quadriplegic rugby and beeping baseball, which is an adaptation of baseball for the blind.

Jones said even though they have been helping many people throughout their journey, the people they have met on their friendship visits have returned the favor.

"They're helping us understand how people with disabilities have the same abilities that we do, and how they may just change the way they do things, but they still have the same amount of abilities," Jones said.

Paul Webb, a junior majoring in communication with a concentration in pre-med, said that adjusting to the physical and mental exertion of the journey was difficult at first, but the overall experience has been worthwhile.

"It really affects every facet of your life. Now the riding isn't as tough as it was before, but in the first few weeks, the first month, you're dying and so tired all the time…Now it's not too bad anymore, and you just think about what you're out there cycling for," Webb said. "You're cycling because other people can't cycle and they would love to do something like that. Even on your worst day, you have to look at the bright side and say ‘Well, at least I can be out here doing this.'"

Webb said that the best element of his trip has been the impact his group has had on people throughout their course.

"It's really great. It's great to see the smiles – smiles everywhere we go, from ear to ear," Webb said.

One of the most memorable moments for Webb was when the group stopped in Utah to help children with disabilities ride bikes. The children were riding on the back of special bikes with the cyclists, and a blind child's father took a picture of his son smiling ear-to-ear and showed it to Webb.

"It's just great to see stuff like that," Webb said.

Webb said that the children they meet on friendship visits can have the same mood-enhancing effects of them.

"In Lincoln, Nebraska, my head was just pounding and I was having a horrible day…We go into this friendship visit and they're playing music and everyone's dancing, having a good time, and I feel great and just smile, loving it," Webb said.

Webb said that it has been great to see a large organization like Pi Kappa Phi come together for one cause.

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be. This is so amazing. If I didn't have to do stuff next summer, I'm still thinking of a way that I can come back and do it again."

The members of the Journey of Hope are stopping in Sandusky, Ohio today and will be at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio Thursday morning.