City Councilman Ted Tedesco declared Tuesday PUSH America Day, as members of the Journey of Hope arrived for a two-day stay in Ames during their cross-country bicycling trip.

PUSH America is a national outreach project of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity, the only national fraternity to establish its own service project.

Fraternity members representing several colleges and universities make up the Journey of Hope team, which is cycling to raise money and awareness for the disabled.

Each member must raise $4,000 to qualify for the team.

This year, the team has raised $253,000, said Brian Ray, the team’s spokesman.

The Journey of Hope’s northern team, wearing red, white and blue cycling shirts, were welcomed into Ames at City Hall by Iowa State Pi Kappa Phi members and Tedesco.

“We are privileged to have you stop here,” Tedesco said. He then presented a certificate to Jason Henson, a senior in computer science and member of the Journey of Hope team, with congratulations.

“Keep up the good work,” Tedesco said.

Henson said the cross-country bike ride is a wonderful opportunity for the cyclists.

“I thought the Journey of Hope would be a great opportunity to help people with developmental handicaps and a great way to see the country as well,” Henson said after the proclamation.

The Journey of Hope is split into two teams, one taking a northern route and the other a southern route.

The team members have cycled an average of 75 miles per day since the beginning of the trip in San Francisco on June 8, and will finish in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 9 for a total of 3,700 miles.

“The cycling is pretty hard at first,” Henson said, “but after about two weeks, your legs get in shape and it gets easier.”

The Journey of Hope team members also held a children’s puppet show called “Kids on the Block” on Wednesday.