Who's who in Newark

Imagine being hunched over a racing bike, your legs burning from the constant cycling, sweat running down your forehead into your eyes, the sun blazing. Though you have just hit mile 15, you still have 60 more miles to go before you hit your destination. That is what senior John Visconi will be doing this summer, all for a good cause.

Visconi will be the first student from the university to participate in Journey of Hope, a cross-country bicycle trek that begins in San Francisco and Seattle and ends in Washington, D.C.

The Journey of Hope, which is an event sponsored by Push America, raises funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Visconi and 90 other participants from colleges all over the United States will be split into three teams that will each take different routes across the country. In each city where they stop, the teams will have a "friendship visit" with a local organization that works with people with disabilities. Team members will spend time with the people in these centers and organize activities such as baseball games, bowling or dances.

Visconi initially found out about the program through his fraternity, Pi Kappa Phi. Push America is the national philanthropy of Pi Kappa Phi, the only fraternity that owns and operates its own philanthropy.

Visconi recalls attending a national conference about Push America as the vice president of his chapter at the time.

"They showed us a slide show about some of things they've done and the people they've worked with," Visconi said. "And the stories of the individuals - you can't beat the emotional aspect of it. That turned me on right there. I knew I was going to try to do something."

Visconi's parents were vehemently opposed to the idea when he first mentioned it. He had just torn his Anterior Cruciate Ligament and was unable to complete any physical activity from the end of last October until the end of this past February. He then wrote a three-page essay on why he wanted to participate in the Journey of Hope. They ultimately said "yes."

Visconi pledged to raise $5,000 and started a Facebook group to promote his involvement in Push America. He only asked those people who joined to donate a dollar to help. Through help from friends, family members and many others, Visconi has surpassed his goal and has raised more than $5,700.

Visconi said he has utilized every communication outlet to ask for support, and his profile on the Push America Web site lists his sponsors. He and his girlfriend even bought piggy banks and collected change to send to Push America.

"I had checks from people I had never met before in my life show up at my door," Visconi said. "I went to a couple sororities dressed in my uniform with letters made up to their parents to donate. One parent sent me $500. I've received over $200 from New Jersey state officials. It's been amazing."

Training has been a whole other challenge for Visconi. Though he considers himself behind in terms of training, due to his injury last October, Visconi talked with the other participants from other schools and is confident he will be in shape in time for the journey.

This experience has been a major transformation for Visconi, who never owned a racing bike, let alone participated in a national fundraising event of this scale.

"I had never ridden a road bike, like a Lance Armstrong kind of bike, until February of this year," he said. "I bought the bike having never ridden one in my life. Charity wise, I was on the planning committee for Relay for Life. I have never done anything physically like this and I have never raised that much money."

Even though this experience is new for Visconi, his motivation quells any doubts or fears he might experience.

"When you're riding by yourself and you're going 25 miles, it's hard not to stop around mile 15," he said. "I have no starting and ending point. I'm just riding around Newark. The seat definitely hurts, but when you split it down day by day, it's worth it. It's going to be great to hang out with people with disabilities and see what they can do. A lot of people are hesitant to approach people with disabilities because they're different.

"I visualize also the fact that if I don't do it now I won't be able to do anything like this ever again."

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