Special Feature
Cheer on Vestavia’s Ben Cox as he bikes across America for people with disabilities! Cox, a sophomore at Troy University and a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, will bike across America from California to Washington, D.C. in an annual cycling trip called The Journey of Hope. Cox plans to raise $15,000 for The Ability Experience before he leaves for the trip at the end of May. The Journey of Hope, an opportunity provided by The Ability Experience, is in benefit of people living with disabilities everywhere. During this trip, after the average 75-mile bike ride day, the Journey of Hope team will meet with organizations that support disabled people at events called friendship visits. The event raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities while developing the men of Pi Kappa Phi into servant leaders.
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.
The Journey of Hope is a once in a lifetime experience for Cox in which he hopes to impact the lives of people living with disabilities in a positive way. He also desires to encourage people everywhere to do good wherever and whenever they can. The number one message he desires to spread is that disabled does not mean unable, and anyone living with disabilities or not can do whatever they put their mind to. “I believe that God has been there through all of this, and it’s been part of His plan. I look at all the lessons and blessings I’ve received recently, which have put me in a position to be able to do this, and I’m incredibly thankful,” says Cox.
On March 12-15, Cox will ride from Birmingham to Troy to fundraise for his overall goal of being able to bike across America. The trip will be 170 miles over three days starting in Vestavia and ending at the Troy University Quad. He is currently raising money through his fundraising page, www.give.classy.org/JOHBen and on his Facebook page for the event “Ben Cox Journey of Hope.” †
