The weather was a bit gloomy, but that didn’t dampen the greeting the young men got. “It’s a great thing for them to know somebody – or lots of somebodies – have traveled across the country to see them, so it gives them a sense of pride and a sense of belonging,” said the Arc executive directory Amy Brezenski.
It’s been a difficult thus far as the bikers ride about 100 miles a day regardless of the weather from San Francisco, Calif. to Washington, D.C. “One of the things we say every morning…is this is your disability for the day. The bike is your disability for the day,” said Public Relations Coordinator for Ability Experience Zachary Corbo. “You can stop. They can’t. You’re going to finish today.”
The journey spans 64 days, which means all of the bikers will be giving up most of their summer. “My uncle has cerebral palsy and just doing anything to help anyone like him is something that I could definitely do for a summer and something that’s very important to me,” said rider Patrick Hobbins.
However, it’s greetings like hugs and smiles that make all the adversity worth it. “When you get a crowd and there are people there showing their support, it really means a lot. It really reminds you what you’re doing it for, and that’s the biggest part. On the hard days, you find your inspiration in the people that come out and support us,” said Hobbins.