Joe Sciandra, a 2011 Livonia graduate, will fly to San Francisco next week to embark on a two-month, cross country cycling trip to raise money for and awareness of individuals with developmental disabilities. Kevin Hooker-For the Livingston County News
Sciandra is a 2011 Livonia High School graduate and earned his engineering degree from Rochester Institute of Technology this past month.
He is participating in a program known as the “Journey of Hope,” which raises awareness and funds for The Ability Experience, the main philanthropy owned and operated by Pi Kappa Phi, Sciandra’s college fraternity. Sciandra is a member of the Theta Psi Chapter (RIT).
“All the funds go towards people with disabilities, whether that be developmental disabilities or physical disabilities,” Sciandra explained. “The whole point is to focus not on the disability of someone, but rather their ability.”
The trip will begin on Sunday, June 12 at the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and end on August 13 on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
“We cycle every day but the miles per day can vary,” Sciandra said. “Based on my itinerary, I think the maximum I’ll be biking is 115 (miles in one day). Every day I’ll wake up at 5 a.m., have breakfast and go for our ride.”