Dear Friends and Family,
Last Summer I embarked on a life changing bike ride from San Francisco to Washington D.C. I had no idea of the lessons I would learn, the experiences that I would have, and the incredible friendships that I would gain. I woke up every morning before the sunrise and knew that I was going to make a difference that day. I met people at friendship visits who taught me to recognize people not for their disabilities but rather for their abilities. I learned how blessed I am, and I learned what true optimism and courage is all about.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Journey of Hope it is a bike ride from San Francisco, California to Washington D.C. that raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Over 90 college aged men dedicate their entire summer to this cause. They get up every single morning before dawn and cycle an average of 75 miles a day. However, when they get off the bikes their day truly begins. They participate in “friendship visits” with people with disabilities that can range anywhere from wheelchair basketball to dance parties where the team truly dances like no one is watching. See my experiences from last summer below.
My experiences last summer as a rider on the Journey of Hope had such a profound impact on me that I have decided to spend the upcoming summer giving back to the organization that gave me so much. I will be honored to serve as the project manager for the South route of the Journey of Hope. This summer I will not be biking, but rather will be leading the team across the country and making sure everything goes smoothly. My legs are excited that I will be in a car this time, but I will still be able to make a difference in the lives of my team members and the lives of the many people we will meet along the way. I hope to make sure my team has the same incredible experience that I had while at the same time growing as a person and a leader.
Some of the best moments of the trip are seeing the look on someone’s face when the team presents them with a grant check that will make a huge difference in their organization. The money we raise does not go to some faceless group, but rather to people we see, interact with, and spend time getting to know. I can tell you from experience that all of the money we raise goes to amazing people and organizations around the country.
I ask you to consider donating to the cause that I will be dedicating my second collegiate summer to. To donate, go to http://secure.pushamerica.org/toddstacy and select “click here to sponsor Todd”. You can also send a check directly to me at 116 Alsace Ct. Ponte Vedra Beach FL, 32082. If you write a check be sure to make it out to “Push America” and write “Todd Stacy JOH 2010 in the memo line.” All donations are tax deductible. I will be “tweeting” all summer as well as running a blog, the links to which I will be sending out in the coming weeks.
Please contact me if you have any questions, and for more information check out https://secure.pushamerica.org/events/joh/
God Bless, and I can’t wait to get out on the road!
Todd Stacy
tpstacy@gmail.com
904-509-9673
