Determined to raise awareness of disabilities

When Omar Zayed, an international student at McNeese State University, first arrived on campus as a freshman he said he gravitated to the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity because of its philanthropic focus.

“When I first met them, it felt like I had known them a long time,” the computer science major from Egypt said. “The fact that this fraternity wants to be of service and give back to others was a big pull for me.”

On Monday, Zayed and his fraternity brothers began the first leg of their planned 100-hour journey riding stationary bicycles in an effort to raise awareness about disabilities.

“I could have joined any fraternity but I chose Pi Kappa Phi because of its involvement in philanthropy,” freshman Thomas Gilbert said. “That really stood out to me and was apart from any other fraternity I was considering.

“This particular event that we’re doing is personal to me and means a lot not just because we’re making a difference but because I come from a family with disabilities.”

Cyclists can be found in McNeese’s new ranch during school hours this week until the group hits its 100th hour on Friday.

Between the hours of 5 p.m. and 8 a.m. cyclists will move their operation to LC Fitness on Lake Street.

“All members of our fraternity have to cycle for at least a couple of hours and some will end up doing four or five hours or even more if they want to,” said Thaddeus Richard, a sophomore and president of Pi Kappa Phi.

“The organization that we work hard to raise awareness and funds for is the Ability Experience, a group that was started by the national Pi Kappa Phi,” Richard said. “As we’ve been cycling, we’ve had students with disabilities stop by and just hang out with us and we’ve had others who just want to watch or ask questions. Some have stopped and simply said ‘thank you’ for doing this and others have made donations.”

The Ability Experience promotes the concept of lifelong service among its members by providing opportunities to serve and raise awareness for people with disabilities.

Since 1977, members of Pi Kappa Phi across the United States have raised more than $10 million in support of the Ability Experience and those with disabilities.