Pi Kappa Phi fraternity bikes cross country to raise awareness

The riders stopped in Carson City Friday to visit the Children’s Museum of Northern Nevada, Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Nevada, People First at Western Nevada College to interact with the public, teach people about the organization and raise awareness about people with disabilities. The men started their ride last Friday, starting in San Francisco and will end in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 8. “I thought that it would be fun to bike across the country and be able to help people out,” Michael McAllister, from Drake University said. “I came in a little out of shape, but that was corrected quickly.”

Each day the men can ride anywhere from 75-85 miles or up to 14 hours a day, then try to stop in towns to meet with the locals. “Everyday is a bike day,” Zack Corbo, public relations members for The Ability Experience, said. “We do programming in the towns to meet local organizations to spread awareness. We try to teach children and adults about accepting and understanding and learning about people with disabilities.”

As a part of their most recent leg, the cyclists came through the Lake Tahoe area Thursday, and biked up 8,000 feet up the incline through the rain, fog and wind. Corbo said watching the riders commit to the cause and push through the difficulties was inspiring. Though it was tough on the riders, the downhill at the end was worth the uphill ride.

“The downhill was amazing, it was the fastest I had ever gone on a bike,” Karl Ochs, from Michigan, said. “I think we were going at least 45 miles per hour going down 8,000 feet. It was fun and seeing Tahoe was so beautiful.”

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