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Community Corner

MHS Grad Bikes Across the Nation for Charity

Alex Stuckel, a 2009 Mehlville High School graduate, is traveling for a cause.

A typical summer for Alex Stuckel usually consists of waking up early to do construction work, playing soccer and spending time with his family and friends.

But Stuckel, a 2009 Mehlville High School graduate, decided to spend this summer doing something a bit unconventional.

Stuckel, 20, is in the midst of a cross-country bicycle trek to help raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities. The event, called Journey of Hope, is hosted by Push America, the national philanthropy of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

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Stuckel and 79 other Pi Kappa Phi members from around the country began the Journey of Hope on June 8. Stuckel’s team of 22 cyclists started the trek in Seattle (the TransAmerica route), while two other teams of cyclists began in San Francisco (the North and South routes).

The Journey of Hope, established in 1987, will culminate with the arrival of all three teams in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 13. When that day comes, Stuckel will have biked more than 4,100 miles across the country in 67 days. That’s an especially impressive feat for someone who, before last summer, had not ridden a bicycle since he was 12 years old.

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Stuckel, a junior biochemistry major at the University of Missouri, first learned about the Journey of Hope six years ago when his parents, Jay and Christine Stuckel, hosted the cyclists at their house and cooked them a meal.

Jay, also a member of Pi Kappa Phi, said the TransAmerica team changed their route six years ago so that they travel through the St. Louis area. When that change happened, Jay and Christine jumped at the opportunity to host the cyclists at their house. The Stuckels have hosted the bikers every year since.

Stuckel said that seeing the cyclists so often helped push him to try the Journey of Hope this year.

“When I started Pi Kappa Phi, I wanted to do a lot of cool events like this,” he said. “We’re the only fraternity that has our own national philanthropy, so it’s a really rare event to do, one of a kind. It’s a cool way to see the country, help some people out and have a really good summer.”

To prepare for the Journey of Hope, Stuckel rode about 1,000 miles on his bicycle. He spent $1,500 of his own money to purchase a bike and other necessary equipment. Additionally, he had to raise $5,000 – which came through donations – to give to Push America.

Push America distributes the money to organizations that host and serve people with disabilities. The 2011 Journey of Hope team has raised more than $570,000 so far. Their goal is to raise $575,000.

Stuckel said all of the hard work to prepare for the event has been worth it. He’s made friendships with his fellow cyclists and the people he’s met along the way. He’s taken a tour of America; by the time he reaches Washington, D.C., he’ll have biked through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia.

In the process, he’s helped raise funds and awareness for people with disabilities. Stuckel said that in addition to visiting many small organizations, the cyclists have often stopped at Lions Clubs, Arc chapters, YMCAs and Kiwanis Clubs.

Stuckel said one of his favorite parts of the trip was biking Mount Rainier on Day 2.

“It was probably one of the hardest days, so just doing that with all the guys and pushing each other, that was pretty cool,” he said.

Other days that stood out include biking through Columbia, MO on Day 48 (July 21) and on to St. Louis on Day 50.

“I like that we went through Columbia, where Mizzou is. That was really cool, knowing that I had biked all the way to my own chapter,” Stuckel said. “I got to show my chapter to all the guys. Also, going to St. Louis and meeting friends and family, having a big dinner and showing the guys where I live and where I’m from.”

When the cyclists were in St. Louis, they visited the Saint Louis Science Center to hang out with members of the St. Louis Society for the Physically Disabled.

Sandwiched between stays in Columbia and St. Louis was a 107-mile ride from Columbia to Union in 105-degree heat, which he said was the toughest day of the trip so far. During the 55 days when the TransAmerica cyclists are biking, they ride an average of 75 miles per day.

When Stuckel finishes the Journey of Hope, he will take a plane back to St. Louis, rest for about a week and then leave for Mizzou. Stuckel said he will consider participating in the Journey of Hope again next year, albeit as a project manager or a crew member.

“Not a lot of other guys have done this. There’s only been one other guy from my chapter at Mizzou who’s done it,” he said. “It’s been a while since he’s done it, so I wanted to set an example for the chapter at Mizzou and some of the people there. Kind of put Mizzou back on the market as a chapter that does Journey of Hope and these kinds of events.”

Christine said she couldn’t be prouder of her son for setting an example, bicycling across the country and donating his summer to help those in need.

“To be willing to give up his summer to raise money for people with disabilities is just outstanding,” Christine said. “I think that sometimes young adults get a bad rap. All you ever hear in the news is the bad things that kids between the ages of 18 and 25 do.

“It’s just outstanding that there are so many of them like Alex who are willing to give up their summers to raise money for people with disabilities. It’s pretty incredible.”

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