For most college students, summer means sunshine and freedom from classes. It means making some money, kicking back with friends and relaxing. For four Truman students, however, this summer may be anything but relaxing. Seniors Jon Block and Danny Brown and juniors Adam Chierek and Nick Cloud, all members of social fraternity Pi Kappa Phi, have decided to dedicate this summer to PUSH America by traveling across the country to raise money and awareness for people with disabilities.   

A Pi Kap whose sister was disabled founded PUSH America. He was upset that she couldn't do simple things like play on the playground because the equipment wasn't handicap accessible. So he started building handicap accessible playground units and started raising funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Today, Pi Kaps across the country continue to carry out this mission.

Chierek said two major cycling events within the PUSH America organization will take place over the summer. Both were launched to raise awareness and funds for the organization. Originally, there was the Journey of Hope, but the cycling event was so popular that Pi Kaps added another, Gear Up Florida, Chierek said.

Chierek is participating in Gear Up Florida, which is an 860-mile ride across Florida spanning two weeks. The bikers will average 80 to 85 miles a day, starting in Miami on May 8 and ending in Tallahassee on May 24, raising anywhere from $50,000 to $60,000 for PUSH America. 

Brown and Block are participating as cyclists, and Cloud will be a member of the support crew in the Journey of Hope, a cross-country cycling trip in its 15th year. The journey starts June 16 at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and ends Aug. 16 in Washington, D.C. The trip is about 4,000 miles, and bikers will average about 75 miles a day, hoping to raise at least $400,000 for PUSH America. 

"Some days we'll ride 75 [miles]; some days we'll ride 100," Block said. "One hundred is a big day, a tough day, they say. It's called the Century." 

Reasons to Ride

So what possessed these young men to spend their summer doing this? Chierek said his inspiration came from a previous volunteer experience. 

"It was so neat to make a difference in someone's life just because you spent time with them," Chierek said. "This way, 860 miles across Florida, I get to reach 2 million people."

Block said he decided to do it because he thought it would be the summer of a lifetime.

"Some people don't even get to drive across the country, yet I get to see the whole country on a bicycle," he said. "I get to meet Pi Kap brothers from all across the country. We've had guys do this from our chapter before and they say it's awesome, the greatest experience of your life." 

Brown said he was looking to challenge himself and had always wanted to participate in the Journey of Hope.

"I figured riding across the country would be a pretty big challenge," Brown said. "But to be able to do it and have it not be just for me, to have it mean something more than that, was definitely a great draw."

Cloud said he wanted to do Journey of Hope almost as soon as he pledged Pi Kap. 

"Because I've heard of how it's such an amazing experience, I wanted to experience it," Cloud said.

Commitment to a Cause

The four have had to work to get to where they are right now, both financially and physically. The application process includes a hefty fund-raising commitment. Those riding in Gear Up Florida have to raise at least $1,800 for the organization. Those cycling in Journey of Hope must raise at least $5,000, and crew members must raise $2,500. 

Each one of the students has gone about the fund-raising process in the same way, sending letters to friends and families, churches, parents of the University's active chapter and alumni. Block said the good thing about writing to so many people is that it gets the word out about PUSH.

"It lets people know what I'm doing; the mission of PUSH America is to raise awareness for people with disabilities," Block said. "That's the whole goal of the trip. By telling everyone what you're doing, you get donations and spread the word." 

The students had a fund-raiser at Wal-Mart one weekend and also solicited money from sororities in "Journey Wars." Whichever organization donated the most money to PUSH America on the bikers' behalf will have its letters displayed on the bikes. They raised about $2,000 from sorority donations; social sorority Delta Zeta donated $1,099.20, the largest contribution received.

"I thought we'd get good participation, but I didn't think we'd get anywhere near that much," Brown said.  

As far as physical preparation goes, the four have been training frequently at the Student Recreation Center. Brown said part of the application process was setting up a personal training plan. 

"Basically, it's just trying to get out there as often as possible," Brown said. "I've seen parts of Kirksville and Adair County that I didn't think I would ever see, that's for sure."

Chierek said the organization recommends they train however many miles they're going to ride.

"I pretty much have to log down about 860 to 900 miles," Chierek said. "So I've been riding around Kirksville and on the highway."

Chierek said that because the bikes don't have pedals, the riders have to buy special shoes with clips that mount to the bottom of the pedals and click into disks on the bike, essentially fixing the riders to the bike. 

"It's definitely something you have to get used to," Chierek said. "It's not like anyone can just hop on." 

 A typical day for the bikers involves getting up at about 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., eating a quick breakfast, attending a quick team meeting, packing up and preparing the bikes. 

"Within 15 minutes of getting up, we're on the road," Chierek said. 

The guys ride for however far they need to go for the day and make an "arrival." Then they'll visit different places such as centers with disabled children, grade schools, civic groups, and minor or major league sporting events.

They present programs like "Kids on the Block," which is a puppet show that focuses on the abilities of people with disabilities rather than on the actual disabilities. A program like this gives kids a chance to ask puppets questions they may not feel comfortable asking an adult. 

"It helps them learn about people with disabilities and how to interact with them," Block said.   

Cloud's typical day as a support crew member will consist of following the bikers on their journey by car, supplying water and food for the cyclists, and being ready to assist with injuries and bike problems. He also will attend all of the interactive events with the cyclists. In addition to that, Cloud will be the media coordinator and will schedule interviews and media coverage, or the financial logistics coordinator, in which he will maintain the budget. 

The support crew plays a vital role in the journey. Cloud said the members go to bed later and wake up earlier than everyone else. There is constant preparation, making sure everything is perfect for the next day.

"It's a busy job, but I'm pretty much prepared to handle it," Cloud said. 

As most of the busy work winds down, the only thing left to do is head out and start riding.

"I can't wait," Chierek said. "I've got the bike; I've been training. I just want to get down there."

The others said they share that feeling.

"I'm very excited," Block said. "It's going to be cool. I just can't wait to get out to San Francisco." 

Cloud said he thinks the experience is going to be incredible.

"They tell me that you make your new best friends there," he said. "I don't know what to expect, but I know it's going to be amazing."

The students still are accepting donations. A donation can be made either in cash or a check payable to PUSH America and can be dropped off at the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house at 815 S. Davis St. 

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