8
the oracle, december 2, 2003
features
Journey of Hope
story by sara garlick
Brothers helping one another
photo contributed by adam argetsinger
photo contributed by adam argetsinger
above: - Weather did not stop the event. The men continued to help Push America.
left: - Pi Kappa Phi men from around the country, bike from California toWashington, D.C. for Charity.
magine 70 men, cycling from California to Washington D.C. in 63 days. This is exactly what the men of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity did this past summer from June 2nd to August 4th. This annual event for Push America raises funds and awareness on behalf of people with disabilities.
Two teams of 35 men, set for the approxiamently 4,000 mile bike ride, leave the from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco heading for the Capitol Building n Washington, D.C. These extraordinary band of brothers pedal through the summer heat of the desert towards a greater goal. This commitment certainly requires a drive to preform, the determination to finish, the ever-persistant encouragement to fellow brothers, and the loyalty and dedication to those people with disabilities that The Journey of Hope strives to reach out to.
The KU chapter of Pi Kappa Phi is
proud to have brothers who have participated in such an event in years past. In the summer of 2002: David Buchanan, of Wichita; Jeffery Serbus and Wes O'Neal, of Lawrence; Adam Heasley, of Overland Park; Jared Leonard, of Kansas City, KS; and Jared Harpole, of Bartlesville, OK sacrificed their summers to be a part of once in a lifetime opportunity. Buchanan, Serbus, and Heasley rode were on the North team with 32 other brothers for 3,922 miles, while their KU brethen travelled 4,120 miles. Within the 63 days and approximately 4,000 miles, the cyclists encountered much personal discoveries about themselves. In The Journey of Hope program, a perfect quote describes the dedication put forth by these men. "Where most people would want to call it quits after a 70-mile ride, the Journey of Hope team's day just begins."
When asked how the team members ate and slept, Jared Harpole replied "There were check points along the way where local sponsors bought us meals, and we generally slept in high school gymnaisums or the occasional hotels."
Major Corporations supplied sponsorship as well. Verizon Wireless provided the Wireless Communication equipment, and Bar CLIF was the Official Energy Bar for the event. Other Corporate Sponsors were: Saturn, KRG Capital, Bank of America, Case Logic, Yakima, and the Diabetic and Respiratory Supply of USA.
If you would like to find out more information on Push America, a NonProfit organization sponsored by Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the web address is: http://www.pushamerica.org
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