Recent AU grad cycles cross country for charity

Cycling 4,350-ish miles across the country presented a daunting challenge to Jack West, but it’s
one he’s glad he took.

“It was such a wonderful experience. Life is so short. I didn’t want to say, ‘Oh I wish I could do it’
or ‘I wish I did.’ Just do it,” said West, a recent Augusta University graduate who participated in the
Journey of Hope, a fundraiser for Pi Kappa Phi’s Ability Experience.

The Ability Experience is a non-profit organization designed “with the purpose of instilling
lifelong service in our fraternity members and serving people with disabilities,” according to the Pi
Kappa Phi website.

From June 4 to Aug. 10, West and a group of 25 other cyclists, along with a support team,
embarked on the cross-country journey from Seattle to Washington, D.C. visiting about 13 states.

“We saw rolling plains, hills, the Cascades, the Rockies, the Appalachians. Shenandoah Valley
was absolutely gorgeous,” he said.

One part of the journey that surprised him was a desert region of Washington state.

Along the way, West and his team had friendship encounters with disability groups.

“We got to hang out with people of different backgrounds and disabilities. In Kansas, I met
Donna who had an intellectual disability. We hung out and played Bingo and cards. She was so sweet,”
he said.

West started training for the journey in October 2023. His longest training ride was about 50
miles, which was on the shorter end of distances they covered in a single day during the trip.

“We averaged about 80 miles a day,” he said. “The lowest was 30 miles and the most was 130
miles; 130 was the most rewarding day. We all unanimously agreed we could’ve kept going. We were
well-trained by that point. It was toward the end of the journey.”

One of the more surprising parts of the experience was how well West got to know himself.

“You can’t really use your phone. You’re not listening to music. It’s just the three guys you’re
riding with, and you put things into perspective. You learn yourself better than you ever have,” he said.
Now that he’s back, he misses the experience even parts he didn’t think he would, such as
hitting the road at 4 a.m. to start riding and beat the heat and spending as many as 11 hours on the
road.

“I was tired and ready to come home, but it was such a momentous thing. It was so much fun,”
he said.

West raised about $8,000.

Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.