Former NHS Student Biking Across Country To Support People With Disabilities

Dylan Ottani, an island native and member of the Nantucket High School Class of 2022, is currently participating in a bike ride across the country – beginning in San Francisco and ending in Washington D.C. Ottani will be accompanied by 20 other cyclists along this route, which is called “The North Route.”

Ottani, a junior at the University of Colorado, is doing the bike ride called “Journey of Hope” as a participant in The Ability Experience, a philanthropic initiative of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. It was founded in 1977 and strives to instill a passion for lifelong service in its fraternity members while helping to empower people living with disabilities.

More than 100 men embark on a cross-country trip every year to test their limits, spread awareness, and celebrate the abilities of all people. With three routes kicking off on the West Coast, teams spend the summer crossing the country over a combined 12,000 miles with an arrival at the Capitol Lawn in Washington DC as the mark to the end of a life-changing event, according to the fraternity.

Along the way, the team spreads the message of disability awareness through local media and makes stops at partner organizations where they “deliver joy to our friends from the disability community,” according to the fraternity.

Bikers will ride an average of 75 miles per day. They will pass through and visit many national landmarks such as The Grand Canyon and Yellowstone National Park. Along the way, they will be participating in “friendship visits, dancing, playing games, or leading campfire songs with a local group that supports people with disabilities.”

Each rider committed to raising $6,500. You can support Ottani’s ride by clicking here.