With just one semester left before graduation from Roanoke College, Connor VanOrden ’24 is pondering the usual questions: Will he find a job after graduation? Where will he live? Is he fit enough to ride a bike all the way across America?
Well, that last question may be a bit unusual, but that’s because VanOrden has chosen to attempt an extraordinary feat during his first summer after college. As a cyclist on the Journey of Hope, which raises awareness and money for people with disabilities, VanOrden will ride a bike from Seattle, Washington, to Washington, D.C., with fellow Pi Kappa Phi brothers from around the country.
“Since the moment I heard about the ride when I was a freshman, I knew I wanted to do it before I graduated or the year after,” VanOrden said, “so it’s always been on my radar and something that I really want to be a part of.”
Journey of Hope is a program through The Ability Experience, a philanthropic initiative of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Every summer, 100 brothers from chapters around the nation cycle across the country on three different routes, pedaling a combined 12,000 miles across 32 states. They ride an average of 75 miles per day, stopping in communities along the way to visit with disabled residents and spread a message of acceptance and understanding.
VanOrden, a native of Gloucester, is earning a degree in health and exercise science at Roanoke. He plans to become a physical therapist and has interned in a PT clinic, so The Ability Experience mission resonates with him. He also comes from a family that includes former military, police and firefighters, so public service has always been one of his values.
Although nobody in his family is permanently disabled, VanOrden and his father and sister, Gary VanOrden ’86 and Kathryn VanOrden ’20, have all been temporarily impaired by athletic injuries. For Connor, a former lacrosse player, it was a torn ACL that left him depressed and on the sidelines.
“My athletic trainer, who was doing my PT, was a godsend,” he said. “It was just a great experience with him because it took me out of a pretty bad place. I want to be that kind of role model for people to just keep pushing and find a way through.”
VanOrden knew he wanted to join a fraternity at Roanoke because his dad, who was a Pi Lam, had a great experience and remains close to some of his fraternity brothers. VanOrden, who just finished a stint as president of Pi Kappa Phi at Roanoke, said the fraternity has already been one of the tightest bonds he’s experienced in his life. Since he decided to do Journey of Hope, he has received overwhelming support from members outside his own chapter, including many of the men who participated in Journey of Hope in the past.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are; it doesn’t matter what you look like or what you believe in. We’re all out there together biking, and there’s something about that unity that will last forever,” VanOrden said. “And I’m so excited to get out there with those guys and just meet them and become their best friend.”
That Pi Kapp support is extending into the fitness center, where VanOrden is doing specialized training five days per week to prepare for his cross-country adventure. Although none of his Roanoke fraternity brothers are doing the ride, several are hitting the stationary bikes, going for runs or spending time in the weight room with VanOrden to keep him motivated and feeling supported.
Each Journey of Hope cyclist must raise at least $6,500 to participate. A small portion of that sum covers meals and lodging, although most of that is provided by friends and organizations along the route. The lion’s share helps fund grants to support the disabled community.
VanOrden is near the front of the pack in donations, which he has raised mostly through word of mouth and social media. But he hasn’t reached the finish line yet — he aims to raise at least $7,500, which would help cover the cost of a bicycle for his trip. He would be delighted to donate even more than that to the cause.
To contribute, visit VanOrden’s fundraiser page or mail a check to The Ability Experience at 3701 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Charlotte, NC, 28273. Be sure to write “Connor VanOrden” on the memo line.
“Throughout the whole thing, I’ve been trying to let people know that anything, whether it’s a monetary donation or advice that they can give, or even spreading the message of what The Ability Experience is as a philanthropy, is helpful,” VanOrden said. “I appreciate anybody and everyone who even considers helping me out along the way.”
-The Salem Times-Register
