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Thompson Falls was just one of the many stops for the Journey of Hope cyclists on their way to Washington, D.C. The Ability Experience is an initiative from the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity to instill a passion for lifelong service in the fraternity members while helping to empower people living with disabilities. Pi Kappa Phi is the first and only fraternity to establish and maintain a non-profit organization. Through The Ability Experience individuals are taught how to be an effective leader and work better as a team.

The journey is a total of 11,740 miles that is combined into three different routes. The Trans-America Route starts in Seattle, Washington, comes all the way to Missoula before traveling south to Denver, Colorado and east the rest of the way. The journey will take 67 days and account for 4,350 miles of the total. When the cyclists arrived in Thompson Falls they were provided with a spaghetti meal donated by Harvest Foods and plenty of water donated by Blackfoot Communications.

After their meal, the cyclist went through introductions where they shared where they were from, what school they go to and a fun fact about them. The cyclists came from all over the nation and some had not been so far north before. How they got involved with the Journey of Hope is unique for each cyclist. Adam Brown, from Davidson, North Carolina, desired to get involved because his younger sister has special needs. He has been cycling since 2017.

“I have always wanted to help and support individuals living with disabilities because of my little sister, Aurelia. She was born with spina bifida and has been through many challenges that have inspired me to be a better man. I told her that she is my personal hero when I signed up for Journey of Hope back in January of 2017, and when I finished the ride she told me that I had become hers. Now I am back for round two!” Brown commented.

The next stop for them was Missoula after they got some well-deserved rest. They planned on spending a couple days in Missoula and possibly going rafting to enjoy the nice weather. The cyclers try to average about 100 miles a day and they will arrive in D.C. on August 10. When they arrive, a reception will be held where family and friends can come and welcome them. The reception is for reflection on the summer’s journey and it is a great opportunity for friends and family to meet with the whole team.

This event will highlight the teams who just finished cycling routes, while also celebrating The Ability Experience’s history. Displays will be set up around the room to showcase some of the special people, places and events in The Ability Experience family. The event will also be a meeting place for everyone The Ability Experience to reflect on their experiences. The Ability Experience has grown throughout the years and continues to shape the lives of many people of all abilities.