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July 27, 2009

Son of ULM Alum takes “journey of a lifetime” across the U.S. for cause

Beginning in June, Joey Terracina, son of University of Louisiana at Monroe alum Kathy Terracina, began his “once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Terracina is a participant in Journey of Hope, a 4,000-mile bike ride across the country over the course of 67 days. The coast-to-coast trek will take three teams through a total of 33 states and over 100 major U.S. cities, and pledges to fund Push America – an organization devoted to helping those with disabilities.

On Saturday, the ULM campus became one of the stops on the journey from San Francisco to Washington D.C., at which time they had ridden over 2,000 miles.

ULM President James Cofer welcomed the group early Saturday evening before the bikers enjoyed a dinner and an overnight stay at ULM's Bayou Suites.

"All of us at ULM are glad that you are here; it is an honor to host you and to support your journey. We are especially proud of Joey Terracina, the son of Kathy Terracina, a ULM graduate."

The amazing trek across the country is only a small portion of this life-changing experience. At the end of each 100-mile day, every member of the Journey of Hope team participates in “friendship visits”—spending several hours with individuals living with disabilities.

Terracina pledged to raise a minimum of $5,500. All donations are tax deductible, and donations of any amount are greatly appreciated, he said.

Terracina may have received his enthusiastic and novel form of support for people with disabilities from his mother, Kathy, a special education teacher and herself an avid cyclist.

The bikers have an itinerary on their Web site and a daily journal with pictures. Joey Terracina is in the "South" route. You may check his progress or donate to Push America under Joey’s name at https://secure.pushamerica.org/joeyterracina.

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