Cycling for a cause: Journey of Hope team aims to raise awareness, support for people with disabilities

June 17--VICTORVILLE -- A group of cross-country cyclists with a passion to raise awareness and support for people with disabilities made a pit stop to connect with the community.

The Journey of Hope South bike team, consisting of 29 cyclists and eight crew members, arrived at Hook Community Center in Victorville on Friday on the second day of their 3,745-mile cycling trip from Long Beach to to Washington, D.C.

One of three Journey of Hope teams, consisting of collegiate members of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity from across the nation, the South group arrived in the High Desert after a 70-mile uphill ride from Ontario in the sweltering heat.

"Dealing with the heat and cycle maintenance will be the biggest challenges during our trip," said Connor Riggs, 21, spokesperson for The Ability Experience, the Pi Kappa Phi philanthropy group. "Most of our guys aren't from the West Coast and aren't used to this heat."

Dressed in blue and yellow cycling jerseys, the men's group will average 75 miles per day on the team's 64-day journey through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Georgia and up the East Coast to the nation's Capitol.

Basil Lyberg, the CEO of The Ability Experience, told the Daily Press the team will have dinner with families from the VIP Connection of the High Desert before bedding down at the center. "Our guys will meet with the families tonight to spread the message of acceptance and understanding. We'll wake up early and head toward Barstow at 6 a.m."

Joey Smith, the team's project manager, said the South cycling team represents about 14 different colleges from across the nation.

"I think our main goal is keeping our guys well hydrated and feed," Lyberg said. "There's a time and temperature when we'll just have to stop for the day."

Other teams making their way to Washington, D.C. include the Journey of Hope North team, which departed from San Francisco, and the TransAmerica team that began their journey from Seattle.

Larry Fabela, a senior at Long Beach State University who attended Silverado High School in Victorville, is part of the TransAmerican team.

"My peers have not only shaped me to become the person I am today, but they have motivated me to give me this hope that anything can be accomplished with a great support network," Fabela said. "I want to be able to become that support network and ultimately bring happiness to those who battle their daily lives with a disability."

Fabela said his personal goal is to raise $7,000 and to better appreciate and promote the abilities of people.

Combined with corporate sponsorships, the three 2017 Journey of Hope teams will attempt to raise more than $650,000 for people with disabilities across the nation. The Ability Experience has raised over $15 million in its 40-year history.

To view the Journey of Hope route map and for more information, visit www.abilityexperience.org.

Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227, RDeLa Cruz@VVDailyPress.com or on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz.

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