1st Day of Cycling

Hello Everyone!
As Hunter, Jay, Ethan and I (Addison) are sitting in our hotel room, we look back at this first day of cycling.  We got a much later start than we will in the future - it was about 2:30 local time before we began the ride.  We had to put the bikes together this morning, since Jay and my bike didn't arrive until 11 pm last night.  We also had to pick up pay-as-you-go phones for our calls within Europe.  And we had to make all the final preparations needed for a trip like this (plus, coping with jet-lag).  On Journey of Hope, we had three days in San Francisco before we kicked off.  For this trip, we tried to kick off in less than twenty four hours.

The day was, at the very least, an incredible learning experience.  It was me and Jay's first real cycling day on a Push America event and it kicked our butt.  The Scottish roads hit us with a three-pronged attack, like a powerful trident.  First we faced some intense headwinds, spurred on by the coming rains.  When the rain did come, we lost a lot of visibility - it was getting late in the day and the sun had already set behind the hills.  So at 7:30 we had to rack up the bikes and head the rest of the way to the hotel in the car.  The last challenge we faced was the road itself - it was so darn bumpy!  We were literally cycling on cemented rocks- like gravel but not loose.  To speak bluntly, our butts could be not be sorer! But most importantly, we are all safe and we had a great time.

We got settled into our hotel by about 8:00, showered and grabbed some dinner.  Now, it's 10:00 pm here in Gretna Green, Scotland and we're headed to bed.  5 am wake up tomorrow, so we need some sleep! Cheers!
-Addison & The Awareness Europe

Day 1: An Incredible Start!

Hey Everyone!
Sorry for the delay with this blogpost, yesterday was an extremely busy day filled with lost luggage, no internet at the hotel, jet lag, but most importantly an incredible friendship visit.
The day began with Jay, Addison, and myself meeting up at Amsterdam International airport to catch our connection to Glasgow - Ethan was on another flight. we arrived with only one minor problem, Jay and Addison's bikes had failed to make the connection! Luckily, it arrived on a later flight, but nonetheless, we were definitely very worried. After checking in our hotel, picking up our rental car, and organising all of our stuff, we headed to our first friendship visit with Drumschapel Disabled Action.
The visit started with a tour of the facilities. Dumschapel Disabled Action (DDA2 as they call themselves) is a day center for people with disabilities. DDA2 offers every service imaginable to help people with disabilities from sensory room therapy to therapeutic baths to a sports room designed for adaptive exercise. It was interesting to tour the facilities and listen to the director explain how their facilities work. We learned a lot about how their funding works, and the general attitude towards people with disabilities in Scotland. It wasn't much different than the US, but there were indeed differences.
After our tour, the fun really began. We played an adaptive and indoor version of bocce ball. The four of us were definitely not very good at that game. However, the members of DDA2 were absolutely incredible. In fact, the best player was a man named Graham who had cerebral palsy. It was an excellent example of abilities, and why its so important that we focus on abilities instead of focusing on disabilities. Yes, Graham did have CP, but more importantly, Graham was also the best bocce ball player in the room.
The day ended with two wonderful surprises. The first was a sponsored meal of traditional Scottish dishes. The food included potato break, mashed potatoes, blood pudding, and haggis. For those who don't know, haggis is made from sheep organs cooked inside a sheep's stomach. Honestly, the haggis was the best part! It was a wonderufl meal, and we were grateful for it being sponsored, as well as allowing us to try something that was very new (and very strange). Our second surprise was 4 stained glass paintings made by the participants of DDA2 for us. After some pictures, we told the group what our plans were for the rest of the trip and informed them that they will be receiving 750 Pounds (1,250 Dollars). A big thanks to our sponsors for helping make that happen.
All in all, it was an incredible start to this new event. They can't wait to have us back next year, and we look forward to it as well.

Its Here Everyone!

So as you can see, this is only the 4^th post on our blog. We have saved our blogging for the trip so we can focus on sharing our story of understanding and acceptance with you guys. You can expect a blog (or two!) a day, so please keep checking back to hear about us. As for right now, we are all at airports waiting to catch our flights to Glasgow. Before we officially begin, here are some things to know about Awareness Europe before we get underway!

Currently there are four of us heading to Europe! Each of us will be contributing to this blog, and the writer of each post will sign off with their name so you know who is writing what! Although its only four headed to Europe, the Awareness Europe team is comprised of 8 Pi Kappa Phis – 7 from Texas Christian University and 1 from The University of Iowa. The four headed to Europe are Hunter Sprague (Project Manager & Cyclist), Addison White (Cyclist), Jay Baumgardner (Cyclist), and Ethan Collins (Crew Chief), Ethan is the Pi Kappa phi from The University of Iowa. Four other guys were crucial to the success of our team, but unfortunately were unable to cycle with us in Europe. Garret Grimes created our incredible logo and was in charge of all of our T-shirt and Jersey designs. Tim Cason created our social media pages and oversees our social media activities. Matt Riesen and Graham McMillan both helped in the planning process of the trip. The eight of us have worked very hard in planning the trip and now that we are merely 3 days away from beginning our trek, we could not be more excited. We also wanted to say a big “Thank You!” to everyone who has supported us! A special thanks to our donors, especially our two corporate sponsors Ann Arbor T Shirt Company and Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS). Ann Arbor T Shirt Company is operated by a Pi Kappa Phi from The University of Michigan and has given us discounted printed jerseys and team t-shirts helping us give more money to people with disabilities. Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) has donated $5,000 and is our executive sponsor. Their help has ensured that we can cover all of our costs and, more importantly, allow us to give even more money to people with disabilities. KinderFrogs School and the Down Syndrome Partnership of Tarrant County each gave us $1,000 – and we could not be more proud to have their support. Thanks again for all your support, everyone! We start this coming Monday! Please keep us in your prayers and wish us the best.

- Hunter Sprague

KinderFrogs. Our Inspiration

Hello Everyone! In less than 48 hours we will arrive in Glasgow, Scotland to begin the inaugural ride of Awareness Europe Presented by Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS).  For those who don’t know already, Awareness Europe Presented by Asia Broadcast Satellite (ABS) has dedicated our ride to the children at KinderFrogs. The team will wear the school’s logo (pictured above) on the front of cycling jersey. KinderFrogs is a school on TCU’s campus that helps young children with Downs Syndrome prepare for the public school system by the time they are to enter Kindergarten.

Our decision to dedicate Awareness Europe to KinderFrogs is simple: KinderFrogs inspired us to create Awareness Europe. Their smiles, energy, and incredible abilities have inspired me since the first time I visited the school. Here is our story: Up until college, I had regularly used the word “retarded” and had an incorrect view of people with disabilities. I focused on people’s disabilities, and had a complete lack of understanding of the amazing things people with disabilities are capable of. Without a doubt, the first smiling face I saw at KinderFrogs, I understood there was something incredible about those children. Week after week, I saw amazing things happen. I began to focus on abilities, like their ability to speak Sign Language, and to always have a smile on their face. The volunteering eventually encouraged me to participate in the Journey of Hope. JOH was an unbelievable experience that was very rewarding. I knew I needed to give something back to the group of inspiring young children who’s smiles and energy encourage me to do JOH. I knew how important it was to show them how much they meant to me and to Pi Kappa Phi at TCU, they were the reason I wanted to create awareness Europe, and I could not be more proud to have their logo on the front of our jersey. To the KinderFrogs, their friends, families, and teachers, thank you for letting us be inspired by your children. 

-Hunter Sprague

Be sure to follow us on twitter and like us on Facebook for live updates while we are on the road. 

@AwarenessEurope

www.facebook.com/awarenesseurope