3 Days into orientation and the brothers that have come together to be apart of a team now have started to look more like a family. It’s unbelievable to see how close we have gotten in such a short amount of time. Through safety programs, ice breakers, dinners, and practice rides, the 2017 Journey of Hope TransAmerica team is quickly preparing for the summer of our lives.
Today, June 5th, we had our second practice ride and our first friendship visit. A day after riding 30 miles and climbing some challenging hills, the team began to have doubts about their ability to ride across America. With no looking back and agreeing to our mission of giving 100% in everything we do, the team picked up their bikes and rode off on a chilly Monday morning. With the thought of the first practice ride on everyone’s mind, the team put it in high gear and gave it everything they got, knowing that in just two days the journey of a lifetime would begin.
With everyone giving it their all, the team completed another 30 miles successfully and showed great improvements from the prior ride. The team was elated and gained the confidence necessary to kick off our journey on Wednesday June 6th.
Later that night, we had the opportunity to attend our first friendship visit. This was the first opportunity for the team to participate with some people with disabilities and make the first meaningful impact of the summer. The team ate dinner, played parachute games, and even played duck, duck, animal and rest assured, some very funny animal impressions were made. The sponsors of the event bought the team pizza and allowed the team to play with their two golden retrievers Telly and Billy. The team had an amazing time and got a glimpse of what their summer had in store for them.
All in all, we are ready. We are ready to challenge ourselves mentally, physically, and emotionally.
We are ready to hold each other accountable and arrive to D.C. as a family. This team has come so far in just a few days and we can’t wait to see what the summer has in store for us. Thank you to all who have and continue to support us. Nothing would be possible without your help.
One Team, One Dream.
In Star &Lamp,
Jeff Olivero, Cyclist