The Journey of Hope is a 4,000 mile cross-country cycling event that begins in Seattle, Washington or San Francisco, California and ends in Washington, D.C. This summer is the 25 anniversary of the event . This summer I've been given the unique opportunity to participate in the JOH as a crew member, leading a team of cyclists across the country. I depart tomorrow morning for Seattle at six in the morning and won't return until mid August.
As I'm sitting on my couch thinking about the experience I am about to embark on, I can't help but remember the moments that have helped to lead me to participate in this phenomenal event. The first was when I met with Tyler Johannson, an expansion coordinator for the fraternity, who came to Marshall to find the re-founding fathers of the Zeta Pi chapter. He discussed with me Push America, an entity of Pi Kappa Phi that owns and operates the Journey of Hope, which was a pivotal point in my decision to join the fraternity as I had experience working with people with disabilities throughout high school. He also spoke about the JOH and the other events that Push America sponsors during the summer like Gear Up Florida and Build America.
In July of 2011 we found out that the men on the Journey of Hope were going to pass through Huntington and stop at the Mountain State Centers for Independent Living, an organization we work closely with downtown, in order to present them with a grant they had been awarded from Push America. During the teams stop I was able to talk to a member of the team from Arizona State University. He discussed how difficult is was to train for the experience and how to fund raise all of the necessary money. Unbeknownst to me at the time was that this was the true spark of how I got interested. Being able to have that conversation gave me not necessarily a face for the JOH, but it gave me a personal experience of how someone was able to push through the hardships of training, fundraising, and generally preparing for the JOH.
Then in January, when I attended Mid-Year, a yearly training opportunity for new officers, Dave Knavel, director of team events, spoke about his experience with the JOH serving on the crew and being a cyclist. After hearing him speak and seeing the videos produced by Push America there was a question and answer session about with him for those interested. I went right up and listened to him answer questions multiple men had. I had never felt before then that participating was even remotely feasible. He solidified the thoughts I was having and I knew as soon as I returned home that I was going to sign up.
As I returned home from Mid-Year I spoke with my parents about it and what their thoughts were. I relayed to them the feelings I received from hearing about the experience and how I didn't believe there was anything else that I would want to do more. After much thought, consideration, and discussion about who to contact for fundraising, how to pay for my plane ticket, and many other aspects, I convinced them that it was the perfect idea. I sincerely believe this experience will help me to grow personally, professionally, and I believe it will instill in me the true values of this fraternity that I love so much.
I can't tell you what to expect from me because I'm not entirely sure myself. I know what I think this experience will be, and I know what I want it to be for me. My only hope is that it is as truly wonderful and life changing as people have told me it is. I'll be the first member from the Zeta Pi chapter at Marshall to participate in the Journey of Hope and to know that I'm representing my brothers in an elite group of Pi Kappa Phi gives me so much pride. I don't know what it is going to be like sleeping on an air mattress all summer. I don't know what it is going to be like to ride in a car cross-country from Seattle to D.C.. I don't know what it is going to be like to spend the next 76 days with men from across the country that I've never met before either. I do however know that if you follow me along the way, we can find out together. God bless my fraternity.
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