The Journey of Hope team will be arriving this year in Topeka Sunday, July 14, at the Kansas Neurological Institute (KNI) for a visit with residents. This stop comes immediately after a 70-mile ride from Emporia, the 40th day of a 4,350-mile cycling event across the country including Kansas and Missouri. This group of cyclists and crew members is one of three Journey of Hope teams riding to raise money that will directly enhance the lives of thousands of people with disabilities through grant funding and community engagement.
Staff and residents representing KNI will greet the team at an arrival ceremony at 12 p.m. Sunday at KNI, 3107 SW 21st Street, Topeka, Kan. The July 14 event will add one more stop to the more than 14 stops Journey of Hope has made in Topeka since it began the yearly trek across the country 31 years ago.
“We are thrilled these cyclists have chosen to visit KNI again as part of their cross-country journey. Their dedicated efforts to raise awareness and spread a message of acceptance and understanding for people with disabilities is laudable and very much appreciated,” said KNI Superintendent Brent Widick.
KNI, one of two state hospitals that care for individuals with developmental disabilities, is administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
The impact of Journey of Hope
Journey of Hope cyclists believe time spent with organizations such as KNI are impactful because they help break down barriers and highlight the abilities of all people. The Journey of Hope team consists of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity men from across the country. The team will cycle an average of 75 miles per day eventually ending their tour at the National Capitol in Washington, D.C., August 10. Every cyclist commits to raising a minimum of $5,500 on behalf of people with disabilities to enhance their quality of life.
The Ability Experience organizes Journey of Hope and two other large service projects each summer and is the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi. Founded in 1977, the Ability Experience is committed to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. Combined with corporate sponsorships, the 2019 Journey of Hope will raise more than $600,000 for people with disabilities across the nation. The Ability Experience has raised more than $16 million in its 42-year history.
The Ability Experience is a national nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities through educational programs, awareness raising events and donations of specially designed equipment and recreational environments.
Visit http://www.abilityexperience.org/ to access video, photos and learn more about Journey of Hope and the other Ability Experience summer events.
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