On June 16, a group of 25 spandex-clad cyclists rode into the parking lot of the Abel Maldonado Youth Center, welcomed by members and athletes of the Northern Santa Barbara chapter of the Special Olympics.
The “friendship visit” by the riders was the latest stop on their 4,000-mile “Journey of Hope,” a cross-country trek that will eventually take them to the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
The group began the day in Cambria, and, despite being undoubtedly weary, the riders hopped from their bikes straight into games of volleyball, soccer, and basketball with 37 Special Olympians from the Santa Maria and Lompoc areas.
“They say you have more energy after these visits, and it really shows,” cyclist Omar Espinoza said. “We did 70 miles today, and we’re still running around playing all these various sports with them.”
It was Day Eight for the annual cycling fundraiser organized by Push America, the charity arm of the nationwide Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. The “Journey” began in 1988 to raise money and awareness for Special Olympics, and this year, two teams of cyclists departed San Francisco on June 13, heading in opposite directions from the Golden Gate Bridge. A third team left Seattle, scheduled to rendezvous with the others at their final destination—Washington, D.C.—on Aug. 14.
The day before arriving in Santa Maria, the cyclists persevered through the first “century” ride of the trip, a 110-mile jaunt down Highway 1 from Monterey.
“We’ve been riding down the coast the entire time,” said Mike Roux, spokesman for Push America. “It’s been beautiful. It got a little scary at times, but it was great.
“It’s kind of cool to see how fast these guys mesh,” he added. “We’ve been together less then 10 days, and it’s like we’ve known each other for years.”
To raise money for local Special Olympics, Push for America applies for grants and awards them to chapters along the way. Prior to the visit, the Northern Santa Barbara County chapter received a $500 grant to go toward sporting equipment and supplies.
“I think it’s really cool they chose to come through Santa Maria as one of their stops on their way to D.C.,” said Rudy Gutierrez, operations coordinator for the Northern Santa Barbara County chapter of the Special Olympics. “To have the cyclists come out and interact and have a good time means a lot to the athletes. I think it really motivates them because they talk about how far they came and where they’re going to go.”
Though they may have just been passing through, the riders left an indelible mark on the Special Olympians. Michael Jones spent the break playing basketball with several cyclists.
“I think that it’s pretty awesome that people can come together in the community and have friends and family joining each other,” he said. “It’s what we need around here, instead of all the violence.”
The cyclists were selected from various fraternity chapters throughout the country; several of them hailed from California.
Troy Hoffman of Rancho Cucamonga, a junior at St. John’s University in New York, is taking part in his first Journey of Hope. The 21-year-old said he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to help people with disabilities.
“Last summer, I was looking at the pictures of what these guys were doing and it inspired me to do it, too,” he said. “I think I’m starting to understand what it’s all about, more so with the Special Olympics, because it’s fun. I think most of us are athletically inclined, and we enjoy doing sports with other people.”
Riders ran the gamut in terms of athletic ability. A few hadn’t been serious about cycling until they were picked for the team, including Espinoza, an art teacher at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood, a suburb of Los Angeles.
Espinoza said he was inspired by his college friends from UC Berkeley to join the ride. He started training for it in February, logging more than 500 miles on the road and racing in Mexico.
Due to the timing of the event, he missed his students’ graduation. Still, he had no regrets.
“I tell my kids that there’s a difference between living and existing, and this is living,” he said.
Espinoza said he was looking forward to visiting places he wouldn’t normally get to see, and making good friends along the route.
“Any organization that helps out in this type of community is well deserving of getting more help,” he said. “It gives you a different perspective, because now when I see the Special Olympics, I’m going to see if I can volunteer. One of the things I’m going to remember is seeing them smile and be happy.
“This is already awesome,” he added. “If it’s this great already, I can’t imagine what the next 60 or so days are going to be like.”
The cyclists are well taken care of, shadowed by vans and paced in small groups. Every five to 10 miles, the riders fill up on water and, thanks to sponsors, are blessed with an unlimited supply of energy bars.
They’ll average about 75 miles per day for the duration of their trip. Covering 32 states, their route winds through the South to Atlanta before heading north. Along the way, they’ll make periodic stops, visiting with Special Olympians and putting on puppet shows that teach children how to interact with people with disabilities.
Community centers and hotels donate lodging at night. For the Santa Maria visit, the cyclists had dinner at the youth center and slept in sleeping bags.
Northern Santa Barbara County Special Olympics’ Gutierrez said he hopes the stop will turn out to be an annual event.
“I thought it would be a great idea coming after the Summer Games to get the athletes involved,” he said. “It turned out to be a great day for both the Special Olympians and the cyclists.”
Staff Writer Jeremy Thomas lives to exist. Or is it the other way around? Contact him at jthomas@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 24 – Jul 1, 2010.