Cross-country cyclists spend day with Fairhaven students

NILES -- Cyclists raising awareness for special needs adults and children stopped over the weekend at Fairhaven School.

Journey of Hope members have spent many years stopping in Niles for a friendship day while making their journey from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

While in Niles, the cyclists are treated to meals and spend the night at the school.

Jack Leitzke of Tampa, Florida, said the Journey of Hope first took place in 1987 and added friendship visits as part of the trips.

"We have partners like the Fairhaven Foundation across the country for places we can stop at and spend the night," Leitzke said. "Every year, they like us coming here and helping out. They sponsor us and give us food and we spend time here with the students."

He said there are more than 20 cyclists as part of the northern bike route and a trans-American route for the second biking group also about 20 cyclists.

Leitzke said between the cyclists and crew members, there are nearly 50 participants who left California on June 6 and will complete their journey Saturday.

"Our goal is to raise awareness and serve the disability community by raising money for them and spreading awareness. We get to know them and spend time with them on friendship days," Leitzke said.

He said he hopes the students at Fairhaven will have a good time with the visitors.

"I think the public has become more aware and more accepting of those with mental and physical disabilities. We want special needs adults to be seen and heard. We understand that they have different needs. We want them to be accepted and enjoy happiness," Leitzke said.

He said the ride has gone well, with members getting up some days as early as 4 a.m.

"We remind ourselves what we are doing the trip for. We try to do 80 miles per day. The only difficult day was the forest fires so we had to not ride for a few days because of the smoke. Nevada was very hot," he said.

Each cyclist raises $6,500 and each crew member raises $2,500, with the two bike routes goal this year being $400,000, which is used for hosting ability camps for special needs children and constructing accessible playgrounds for those in wheelchairs and other projects.

Leitzke said he was told about the ride from a college classmate who rode in 2025.

"After hearing that, I thought that would be a great way for me to spend my summer," he said.

Leitzke is studying business administration and supply chain management.

Jude Welsch of Chicago said the fraternity he is with has a philanthropy of awareness of those with special needs.

"We try to do service events for those with disabilities. We have been to different camps to help out. One of my friends did this ride last summer, and his dad did it in 1991. They told me about this experience and the difference I could make," Welsch said.

He said riding the bike each day he and the other riders had to push themselves.

"You have to put your best foot forward and show who we are and the mission we are on," Welsch said.

He said the team stays overnight at schools, YMCAs and churches.

Students and their guests take part in games and enjoy food and camaraderie.

FAIRHAVEN FOUNDATION

Stephanie Champlin, executive director of the Fairhaven Foundation, said the cyclists have stopped for the past 16 years each August at Fairhaven School.

"This is a popular event that everyone looks forward to. We appreciate that there is a bike team that travels across the country spreading a message of inclusion and acceptance in direct alignment with our mission. It is a wonderful opportunity to give those we serve an opportunity to spend time with these young men who are supportive of our mission and want to be here for a friendship visit," Champlin said.

She said this year there was an ice cream sundae party with a gymnasium full of inflatable games, along with music.

"There are fun activities for everyone. We hope everyone will have a fun time and have good memories of the new friends they made today. This is an opportunity for those we serve to get together and have fun and have a social opportunity," Champlin said.

Edward Stark, superintendent of Trumbull County Board of Developmental Disabilities, said, "This event is amazing and something so many look forward to every year."

He said the cyclists have gone to Scappers games, concerts and the Olive Garden.

"I have so many students who ask me when the bike riders are coming," Stark said.