Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity will hold a 24-hour bike-a-thon this week in front of Mary Couts Burnett Library to raise awareness for people with disabilities.

Nathan Wang, a junior finance major and the Eta Chi chapter’s Push America chairman, said members of the Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity will take one-hour shifts throughout the 24-hour period on two stationary bikes starting at noon Thursday and ending at noon Friday.

This is the first year that Pi Kappa Phi has put on the bike-a-thon event. He said the fraternity felt that the other events that it put on for its philanthropy focused on fundraising, but that this event would allow members to show students what Push America’s cause is really about.

“A lot of people focus on money, which is unfortunate because they miss the cause and they miss the purpose behind the event,” Wang said.

McCall Grimes, a senior entrepreneurial management major and president of Pi Kappa Phi, said that along with increasing awareness for Push America, he wants the increase in involvement from students on campus to help those with disabilities. The fraternity members want students to become more aware of what Push America is and how they can help those with disabilities.

Wang said Pi Kappa Phi had two other events during the school year, Pi Kapp Push earlier this year and a wheelchair basketball tournament which will be held in the spring. Both events will raise money to support the fraternity’s philanthropy, Push America.

Grimes said during the summer, members of the fraternity also participate in three other events to help raise money.

Journey of Hope and Gear Up Florida are both cycling events that help to raise money and awareness throughout the United States during the summer, he said.

Build America is another summer-long program where members help rebuild camps for children with disabilities.

Wang said the fraternity will have a tent set up along with the bikes with more information about Push America.

“If we affect one person, it is all worth it,” Wang said.

Pi Kappa Phi’s Bike-a-thon

Where: In front of Mary Couts Burnett Library

When: Begins at 12:00 p.m. today

Ends 12:00 p.m. Friday

For more information on Push America visit: pushamerica.org