Amador County – The Arc of Amador and Calaveras counties for the 23rd year will greet a group of college students who are riding bicycles across the United States to promote understanding of people with disabilities.

Sherri Pitto of The Arc of Amador and Calaveras said that on Tuesday, June 14th, The Arc “will again host a welcoming picnic for the inspiring Journey of Hope cyclists.” She said the “young men are part of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity,” and “their philanthropic organization Push America sponsors the Journey as part of their campaign to promote a greater understanding of people with disabilities.”

This year’s PUSH America Journey of Hope 2011 will include more than 70 cyclists, who will leave San Francisco on June 11th on their “Journey of Hope” to Washington DC. Half of the riders will come through Jackson after leaving Sacramento on their way over the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The other half takes a route that goes through Southern California before heading east.

This will be the 23rd year the group has stopped in Jackson before heading over the Sierras, and the 22nd year The Arc has provided the group with a “friendship” picnic with “lots of camaraderie, food, drink, and fun,” Pitto said. The Arc has provided services to people with disabilities since 1971, and the Journey of Hope has become as much of an annual anticipated event for Arc participants as it has for the riders. Pitto said returning cyclists and crew members have said that “the Amador County experience is one of the best experiences of the Journey of Hope, year after year.”

The welcoming picnic will be at the St. Sava’s complex in Jackson between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14th in Jackson. Pitto said other local sponsors include Jackson Family Sports, Jackson Lions’ Club, and Mel and Faye’s Diner.

Pi Kappa Phi is the only national men’s fraternity to establish and maintain their own service project. Fraternity members have raised over $10 million for Push America since 1977.

Pitto said: “It’s an amazing adventure and a tribute to the character of the young men who make up Pi Kappa Phi.” Each cross-country trip takes 63 days, and the bicyclist’s average 75 miles per day. Every day, the riders meet with disability groups and promote events to raise awareness and understanding of people with disabilities.

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