By Selena
Stevens
On May 12, Tod Cox and Michael
Culton will join 24 other college students in Miami to begin the summer challenge.
|
May
5, 2000 – (Lexington, Ky.) –
Todd Cox, a University of Kentucky junior from Corbin majoring in business management and
communication, and Michael Culton, a Lexington Community College computer information
systems student from Lexington, will bike across Florida this summer on behalf of people
with disabilities. The
two, both members of UK’s chapter of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, are participating in
2000 Gear Up Florida, a 12-day, statewide bicycle trip that supports Push America, a
national non-profit organization serving people with disabilities. On May 12, they will
join 24 other college students in Miami to begin the summer challenge.
“While
this may seem like a unique and inspiring challenge, it is nothing in comparison to the
challenges faced every day by people with disabilities,” Cox said.
Push
America began in 1979 as P.U.S.H. – Play Units for the Severely Handicapped – an
initiative of Pi Kappa Phi with architect and artist Thomas Sayre. Sayre had a vision of
improving the lives of children with severe disabilities and had developed models of
“therapeutic play” units. Pi Kappa Phi adopted Sayre’s vision and created a
national outreach program. Over the years, P.U.S.H. grew
to serve all people with disabilities and became a separate organization,
Push America. Today, its initiatives includes a summer camp program, a traveling puppet
show, volunteer construction weekends and Journey of Hope, the annual cross-country
bicycle trip.
“Due
to my involvement with Push America and local efforts, I have learned what people with
disabilities can do,” Cox said. “I’ve realized there is a need nationwide
to educate people on the abilities of people with disabilities.”
Gear Up Florida seeks to reach over 1 million people
and raise more than $40,000 in support of the projects and programs of Push America.
|
