DAVENPORT, Iowa (KWQC) – Thirty-one fraternity members from colleges and universities across the country joined together for a cross-country bike trip this summer.
The men of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity are in the annual Journey of Hope bike ride from San Francisco to Washington, D.C., and they stopped in Davenport on Thursday.
Journey of Hope, organized by The Ability Experience, is a cross-country cycling event that raises awareness and support for people with disabilities.
The group of cyclists and crew members is one part of the two Journey of Hope teams riding different routes across the country, totaling 4,000 miles altogether.
The group had a sponsored lunch at Happy Joe’s Pizza & Jungle Bungle and finished the day with a dinner and “friendship visit” at the Annie Wittenmyer Aquatic Center on Thursday.
Along the way, cyclists engage in what they call Friendship Visits, giving team members time to build relationships with the very individuals they are riding to support.
These visits include activities such as dances, games, and advocacy events, providing cyclists and the disability community with enriching, memorable experiences.
For Siddharth Nanjangud, Public Relations Crew Member, it is important for them to make sure those with disabilities are seen, heard and supported.
“Every single biker has at least one personal moment that they’ve had with either someone with disabilities, or somebody they know has a disability, or somebody that they just want to dedicate this trip to,” Nanjangud said.
For cyclist Ethan Vesely, the months of training, fundraising and outreach are more than worth it in the end.
“It’s been really rewarding and positive just seeing all of the hard work that went into preparing, and just seeing it all pay off a million times more than what I would’ve expected through the friendships, visits, and the impact that we’re able to make at each one with all the individuals involved.”
While it is partly a physical challenge for the group of cyclists, Charlie Taft says it’s the faces of the lives touched and the views along the way that he loves the most.
“It’s the perfect mix, I’d say, of challenging and rewarding. The challenging part is obviously biking early in the morning … being away from family — all that stuff is really difficult,” he said. “But then I see the looks on people’s faces at the friendship visits. Seeing some of the most incredible views ever. That’s definitely the rewarding part,” Taft said.
Combined with corporate sponsorships, the 2025 Journey of Hope teams will raise more than $450,000 for people with disabilities across the nation.
To learn more about the ride, visit Journey of Hope.
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