There is nothing quite like unconditional love in action. And there was plenty on display as bicyclists from “Push America” and their “Journey of Hope” team swarmed the outdoor shelter at Longwood Park in Salem last week to meet and play with local children.
Journey of Hope is just one of several outreach arms of the national fraternity Pi Kappa Phi. Though the fraternity has a chapter locally at Roanoke College, these cyclists came from all across the country.
“Pi Kappa Phi is the only social fraternity with their own non-profit organization,” states Alex Masica, public relations spokesperson for the team. The organization attracts civic minded young men because of their commitment to making a difference in this world.
There are three teams spending this summer cycling across America to raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Masica joined the organization because he has a sibling with Down syndrome. They were visiting with members of the Down Syndrome Association of Roanoke (DSAR), a local organization founded by Susan Cloeter almost twenty years ago at the birth of her son.
By the end of the visit, a check for $750 was gifted to DSAR but it was almost anticlimactic. The real gift was the unconditional love being shared among all the participants. It could be seen and heard in the heartfelt hugs offered to the team members, and the quiet conversations while sitting on the ground leaning against the fence.
The patient games of catch between the athletes and the children showed the character of the young men involved in the fraternity. The tables piled high with food and the sincere invitation offered to a stranger to join-in, showed a grace and kindness often lacking in those who have never faced adversity.
Masica, who is studying journalism, expressed his concerns over terminology often used to describe people with disabilities. He spoke of the origin of the word “handicapped” explaining that it originated in England as a derogatory term for those unable to work. They often stood with hat upturned in hand begging for coins, thus they were “handy-cappers”. Since one fourth of our population has a disability in one form or another, he suggests that a more dignified approach is necessary.
When the Cloeter family gave birth to a son with Down Syndrome all those years ago, they became quickly aware of the lack of local information and support. In the midst of their adjustment to this unexpected life challenge they founded DSAR and some wonderful results have followed. They plan on continuing their advocacy and support of families in the area who meet the same challenges they do every day.
If you or someone you know faces the challenge of a family member with Down syndrome you may visit dsar.org or contact them at 540-772-6460.
You can become involved with Push America and gather information at pushamerica.org
By Christine Slade [email protected]
