Special Feature
Vestavia’s Ben Cox is preparing to bike across America this summer for people with disabilities. Cox is a Psychology major at Troy University. In 2020, Cox was preparing to cycle from California to Washington in a 2-month event called Journey of Hope. However, due to COVID-19, those plans couldn’t happen like anticipated. Although the events went virtual, an impact was still made for people living with disabilities!
The Journey of Hope started in 1987 when one man biked across the U.S. to raise awareness for people with disabilities. Since then, the men of Pi Kappa Phi have developed this trip into a yearly event with 3 routes, spanning 12,000 miles and 32 states, with around 25 cyclists and eight crew members per route.
“This summer I hope to continue on with my original commitment of cycling across America,” Cox says. He will be biking 4,000+ miles from June to August. “I’m sure with COVID-19 our trip will look slightly different than previous years but I am still optimistic and excited for the experience,” he adds.
Cox’s fundraising goal is to raise$6,500 for The Ability Experience before the 2021 Journey of Hope begins. There are two ways you can help Cox financially on his journey. Cox is hosting a golf tournament at Highland Park Golf Course in Birmingham on March 5 that you can be a part of. Learn more about the golf tournament at www.the-ability-experience.perfectgolfevent.com. He is also raising money through his fundraising page. †
