Biking for a purpose

Riding bikes across the country for charity is how two University of Toledo students will be spending their month of May.

Alejandro Vera and Nicholas Horning, members of the University of Toledo’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi, are participating in two annual bicycle events to raise awareness for people with disabilities. Vera and Nicholas will join other Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members from across the United States in the events organized by Push America.

Vera, a third-year professional sales, marketing and international business major, is participating in Gear Up Florida, an 865 mile bike ride across Florida. Horning will participate in Journey of Hope which is a 3,600 mile ride across the U.S. from San Francisco to Washington D.C.

Throughout their trips, cyclists will stop and promote awareness about people with disabilities and present funds that were raised for the cause.

Along with visiting disability centers, Gear Up Florida will present raised funds to the centers they visit. Gear Up Florida has a goal to raise $110,000, Vera said.

Vera said this cause is important because everyone knows someone with a disability.

“Abilities are more important than disabilities - that’s why I’m doing this,” Vera said.

Push America is Pi Kappa Phi’s philanthropic organization that was founded in 1977. Since it was established, the organization has raised over $10 million for people with disabilities.

Vera will begin his bike ride in May. He will ride from Miami to Tallahassee over the course of 16 days.

Although Vera will not leave until May, he has begun preparation. His fundraising efforts have raised $2,524.13 as of March 9. This amount surpassed his original goal of $2,000.

Vera said he is the second in the nation to meet his goal.

Alongside raising money for the venture, Vera said he has trained for the journey by learning to ride a bike.

“I’m training to raise awareness for people with disabilities,” Vera said.

Vera said he has a personal reason to participate in this cause.

“I had a walking disability when I was four,” Vera said. After surgery he was able to walk normally again.

He overcame his adversity and is currently the captain of his fraternity soccer team.

“I’d like to show people that you shouldn’t look at disabilities, but abilities,” Vera said.

Horning, a third-year exercise science major, will be performing similar tasks for disability centers across the nation.

Horning will leave for his bike ride from San Francisco to Washington D.C. that starts on May 26.

“It will be 62 days long and we will ride 75 miles on average,” Horning said.

Horning has raised $4,200, but needs to raise $5,500 to participate. Horning’s goal is to raise $7,000.

Horning said Journey of Hope will stop at disability centers every few days while biking 3,600 miles. At their stops they will visit people with disabilities, “develop friendships, play games, and eat dinners” with them.

Gear Up Florida, in addition to biking 865 miles, will make stops 3 to 5 times per day at disability centers across the state, Vera said.

At these visits Vera will be interacting with people with disabilities and he said many of the teenagers didn’t go to traditional high schools and have opportunities like prom.

Vera said he will watch movies, play games and participate in events with people with disabilities.

“It’s stuff like that that makes them happy,” Vera said.

Vera and Horning said they want to make a difference in the lives of people with disabilities and by participating in this event, Horning said they will.

For more information, e-mail Vera at [email protected]

and Horning at [email protected] To make a donation visit http://support.pushamerica.org/site/TR.