The Push America “Journey of Hope” bike team rolled into Northbrook for a special visit on July 23, participating in an afternoon of fun activities for children with special needs at the North Suburban YMCA. The visit was a stopover in an annual 4,000 mile cross-country bike ride that raises awareness and funds for children with special needs. The team, all members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, played Baggo and other lawn games with young guests and socialized with families at an outdoor barbecue dinner. The Y event also included a DJ and balloon artists to entertain children. This is the fourth year the Y has hosted the team for a stopover, but the first year for the special public event.
The Push America Journey of Hope is an annual cross-country bike ride sponsored by the Pi Kappa Phi national organization. Team members ride an average of 75 miles per day, with stopovers that raise money and build relationships within communities. Three separate teams of approximately 30 riders each are currently en route from the West Coast to Washington, D.C., with a fundraising expectation of over $600,000.
The team that came to the NSYMCA included college students from Florida, New York, Kansas, and elsewhere. They have experienced almost every kind of climate and terrain since leaving San Francisco on June 6, including a challenging pass through the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 7,000 feet. Their Chicago-area stop was more relaxing: after a night “camping out” in the Y’s gym, they were treated to breakfast and a yoga class before heading out for more community events.
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“Push America is an outstanding program that we are proud to support,” said Howard Schultz, NSYMCA Executive Director/CEO. “These students make an enormous commitment to help others, and they are ambassadors for the message that everyone can achieve great things. We wish them all the best as they continue their Journey of Hope to Washington, and we look forward to seeing next year’s team when they come through Northbrook.”
