Fraternity members bike across country for disabled

On July 16, 33 Pi Kappa Phi undergraduates and alumni rode through Lincoln in a bicycle caravan as a part of the Journey of Hope, an annual summer event that raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities.
Each summer around 90 current or former pi kappa phi members cycle 4,000 miles starting from either San Francisco or Seattle and ending at Washington D.C. Each year it raises more than $500,000 for programs of Push America, a national non-profit organization and the exclusive philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi that serves people with disabilities.
Adam Phillips, the director of marketing and public relations for Push America, said the businesses and organization that house and feed the riders are part of what makes this trip possible.
"We have a very dedicated group of sponsors," Phillips said. "They've been more helpful than words can explain."
In order to participate, riders must raise $5,000 through civil donations and be prepared for a 70-day journey across the country.
While 75 percent of the money raised by each fraternity is used nationally, the other quarter is given back to the individual fraternities to distribute to a local charity.
"Everything that we've been doing actually pays off," said Alex Kolbo, the Push America chairman for Pi Kappa Phi at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Kolbo was asked to participate in the journey from Grand Island to Lincoln, because he helped orchestrate the sponsorships in Lincoln.
"It made me more comfortable with people with disabilities," Alex said.
During the almost 100-mile trip, Kolbo said he reached the point of exhaustion and was ready to give up.
"One of the guys told me that we can't quit, because people with disabilities can't quite their disability," Kolbo said. "They have it for the rest of their lives."
Once they reached Lincoln, the whole troupe was treated to lunch courtesy of Raising Cane's. Afterward, the group went to a dance with The Arc of Lincoln.
"I had a blast reaching out to them and showing that we care about them," Kolbo said. 
He also said he was amazed by how much energy the riders had. The usual day for the riders consists of a 75 mile bike ride followed by different activities with programs for disabled people in Lincoln, all on about six hours of sleep. After the trip from Grand Island, Kolbo said he was ready to drop.
"I guess they just have a lot of will power," Kolbo said.
aubreycummings@
dailynebraskan.com