Four University of Colorado at Boulder students will bike nearly 4,000 miles across America this summer in an effort to raise money and public awareness of people with disabilities.
Adam Bacon, Will Kramer, Erik Estrada and Ryan Roth will ride in the Journey Of Hope cycling tour, beginning June 2 in San Francisco and ending Aug. 4 in Washington.
A total of 60 cyclists will divide up and follow two different routes across the country, stopping in communities along the way for events and presentations before reuniting outside the nation's capital for the final stretch. The annual event typically raises $300,000 to $500,000 per year.
"On average, we will ride 75 miles a day," Estrada said. "We wake up at 6 a.m. and ride until 1 p.m." After lunch, the riders conduct activities with physically or developmentally disabled residents of the community. They also educate children on the abilities of people with disabilities, Estrada said.
Fundraising has been the most difficult aspect of preparation, the students said. The CU team has committed to raising $20,000 and has found some support from family and friends, as well as contributions from the CU-Boulder Residence Hall Council and other sources.
They remain well short of their goal, though, and are continuing to look for funding from the Colorado business community. The money collected goes directly to benefit people with disabilities. The riders pay for their own equipment and some expenses on the road, Bacon said.
The CU cyclists volunteer for the Life Skills Program at Boulder's Fairview High School, a program for students with developmental disabilities.Ìý
"That's where I developed the passion to ride in the Journey," Estrada said. "I am confident that the Journey will be the most amazing experience I've had in my life thus far."
"The more people we educate with this ride, the better - that's our purpose," Bacon said.
None of the CU-Boulder participants are expert or competitive cyclists. Estrada said he's been weightlifting, running and biking to get ready for the trek.Ìý"My first ride since elementary school was two weeks ago, when I went for 25 miles," he said.
"We're all 'average Joes,'" Bacon said. "I'd never ridden a real road bike before this."
Estrada is a senior political science major, with a minor in chemistry. After graduation, he plans to work in the non-profit sector in Colorado, attend graduate school either in public policy or higher education administration, and possibly make a run for the Senate.
Bacon, a junior architecture major, plans to gain industry experience through internships, earn his license and someday open his own firm.
The Journey of Hope is facilitated by Push America, a nonprofit organization operated by the national Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. The cyclists are selected from various chapters of the fraternity. Since 1977, the Push America program has raised more than $7 million to help people with disabilities.
The riders are scheduled to bike through the mountains of Colorado June 19-24, with a stop in Denver on June 25 and 26.
Contact Adam Bacon or Ryan Roth at (303) 385-1126 to make a tax-deductible contribution, or email ryan.roth@colorado.edu.