3:14 p.m., June 30, 2008--Two UD students are biking across the United States to raise funds for and awareness about persons with disabilities. Seniors Barney Fortunato III and Tom Merring are taking part in Pi Kappa Phi fraternity's Push America-Journey of Hope, which began with a team of about 30 cyclists crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on June 15. The average distance covered is 75 miles a day.

Fortunato was with the group taking the northern route and Merring is on the southern route. Final destination is the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 16.

The team of riders represents universities from all over the country. Members had to train hard for the trip, as well as raise at least $5,000 each.

All along the way the teams make Friendship Visits at organizations that serve people with disabilities and in small towns along the route. The first visit was a wheelchair basketball game with the Janet Pomeroy Center Wildcats in San Francisco, in which the cyclists were roundly defeated. Fortunato said it was amazing to see the anticipation and the excitement the game generated among the kids at the center.

The northern route has taken Fortunato from mountains to desert. One stopover was Eureka, Nev., population 200, where the people in the town turned out and cooked a spaghetti dinner for the cyclists. Fortunato said the spirit of the people he meets in the small towns he visits is amazing and that he appreciates this opportunity to experience America and the goodness that is in people in such a personal way.

Founded in 1977 as a service-learning, philanthropy project of Pi Kappa Phi, Push America has raised nearly $10 million. In addition, fraternity brothers have donated hours of labor to renovate facilities at places like summer camps to make them accessible for persons with disabilities.