The Ability Experience Journey of Hope South cycling team will arrive in Arlington for the twenty-second year on Friday, July 13, 2018. Photo Credit: Denise Wilkerson
The Arlington Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities and the University of Texas at Arlington Movin' Mavs will host the Ability Experience Journey of Hope South cycling team for the 22nd year on Friday, July 13, 2018.
The Journey of Hope cyclists are traveling from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. on their cross-county trip across America. Both the 10 a.m. Welcome at the UTA Maverick Activities Center (MAC) and the 1 p.m. wheelchair basketball game where the cyclists from the Journey of Hope battle the champion Movin Mavs are free and open to the public. The basketball game is in the MAC.
Arlington Mayor Jeff Williams will present a proclamation to the team just prior to tip-off at 1 p.m.
Journey of Hope cyclists will compete against UTA Movin' Mavs players on Friday, July 13, 2018. Photo Credit: Jeremy Schack
In 1987, one man's dream of riding his bike across the country came true. What he did not know was the inspiration and motivation his trek across America would give to The Ability Experience. The very next year his ride inspired The Ability Experience to create the largest fraternal fundraising and awareness event of its kind, the Journey of Hope. Today the Journey of Hope covers 32 different states, cycling over 12,000 miles combined, it is solely comprised of members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and continues to spread a message of acceptance and understanding for people with disabilities.
Journey of Hope reaches out to people through newspapers, radio and television, civic groups and community leaders, reaching millions of people annually and bringing to the forefront the abilities of people with disabilities. From the inaugural team of 21 team members raising $20,000, the team has since been expanded into three different routes of 35 team members and annually raises more than $500,000. One man's dream made it all possible.
Journey of Hope is a cross-country bicycle trek beginning in San Francisco (North), Los Angeles (South) and Seattle (TransAmerica) and ending together with all teams in Washington, D.C. (view route map here). The event raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Simply put, the Journey of Hope is a ride with a purpose. Make no mistake; this is not a simple ride. Journey of Hope is about many things. It is about challenging the norm. It is about serving our communities. It is about finding out more about ourselves than we ever imagined. It is about having a dream. It is about a mission. It is about hope.
The true impact of the Journey of Hope can be felt through its programming across the nation. After riding an average of 75 miles a day, you won't find team members napping preparing for the next day's ride. They will be dancing at a friendship visit with a local group that supports people with disabilities, participating in a game of wheelchair basketball, performing puppet shows to educate children on the abilities of people with disabilities, and learning life lessons that will impact them for the rest of their lives. This journey is service beyond self and the men of Pi Kappa Phi have been dedicated to people with disabilities since 1977.
For questions about the event please contact [email protected] for more information.
Mayor’s Committee on People with Disabilities
Community, News, UT Arlington