Since 1996, the City of Arlington has been a host city for a team of cyclists on a 4,000 mile cross-country trek that raises awareness of people with disabilities.

At 11 a.m. Monday, July 19, one of two teams of cyclists will arrive at City Hall escorted by Arlington Police Department motorcycle officers.

Monday’s welcoming ceremony at City Hall will be led Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck at approximately 11:30 a.m. The ceremony will also include a picnic lunch provided by Saturn of Arlington and the Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities. City Hall is located at 101 W. Abram St.

For 17 years, the Journey of Hope has been a national outreach project of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. The project is the largest fund-raising awareness campaign for Push America, a national non-profit organization.

Two teams of 35 cyclists each began their treks from San Francisco on June 13, and will arrive in Charleston, South Carolina on August 15. Arlington is approximately the half-way point for the southern trek.

According to Project Manager Allen Webb, the Journey of Hope raised $525,000 in 2003. Individually, each cyclist is required to raise at least $5,000.

Following the ceremony and picnic at City Hall, the cyclists are scheduled to enjoy a complimentary afternoon at Six Flags Hurricane Harbor with a group of disabled Arlington youth. The cyclists will also attend a Texas Ranger game in the evening with Texas Christian University’s KinderFrog School.

Whitten Inn is providing complimentary rooms for the cyclists and their ground crew. Whitten Inn, which was formerly Comfort Inn, is located at 121 E. Interstate 20.