ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Some Pi Kappa Phi fraternity brothers from around the country are about to head out on a cross-country cycling trip to celebrate the abilities of all people and raise money to support programs for people with disabilities.

What You Need To Know

  •  The Journey of Hope is a ability experience created by Pi Kappa Phi

  •  Every year fraternity members cycle across the country to raise disability awareness and raise money for disability programs

  • The ride starts on the West Coast June 5 and finishes in Washington, D.C. on August 10

The Journey of Hope is a coast-to-coast bike ride. Sixty Pi Kappa Phi members, including a few from RIT, are about to start the ride from Seattle and San Francisco and cycle all the way to Washington, D.C.

RIT student Alex Johnsen jokes he had no prior cycling experience other than riding his bike as a kid, but he wanted to be a part of this annual ride. He is going to spend the summer crossing the country to spread the message of disability awareness and stop at organizations along the way to spend some time with friends from the disability community. Journey of Hope says 6.5 million Americans have a developmental disability.  

"I have been training for this trip and kind of fallen in love with it. Who can say that they biked across the country and do it for such a good cause? I am so blessed to do this. It's going to be the best summer of my life," said Johnsen.

The cyclists will have support teams driving alongside for safety. Nate Nesbitt will be driving one of the team vans.

"I have never traveled on something like this where we are driving every day. It is definitely something I am looking forward to. I have flown across the country and visited some states, but nothing like this. I am excited to see this country in this way," said Nesbitt. 

Johnsen says they'll bike about 75 miles a day. The annual ride has raised more than a million dollars for disability programs. They're scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 10.