Gear Up Florida
Ride for Acceptance Across the Sunshine State
Since 1997, more than 750 Pi Kappa Phi men have crossed Florida together, championing inclusion for people with disabilities. Each year, the team raises $150,000 to fund life‑changing programs through The Ability Experience and to amplify voices that too often go unheard.
Over an energizing two‑week, statewide journey, participants visit local communities, disability service providers and friends across Florida, sparking conversations, building relationships and inviting everyone to see ability first. What began with a simple mission to reach as many people as possible with a message of acceptance and understanding has become what many participants proudly describe as “the best two weeks of programming The Ability Experience offers.”
Resources and Information
Driven by the Mission
Isolation can take a real toll on confidence, health and joy, especially for people with disabilities who face barriers to community life. Gear Up Florida tackles that head‑on.
After averaging an average of 75 miles a day on the bike, our team’s most meaningful miles begin the moment they roll in for a Friendship Visit. One stop might mean a dance party. Another? Adaptive games, shared meals or campfire songs. However we celebrate, the goal is the same: build connection, see ability first and leave behind a little more joy than we found.
For many of our partner organizations, Gear Up Florida’s arrival is circled on the calendar like a holiday. It’s a day when friends reunite, new relationships begin and communities rally around inclusion.
One state, Countless Memories
Gear Up Florida launches on the shores of Miami, pedals through the state’s iconic orange grove country, rolls west to the Gulf Coast, swings inland through Orlando, arcs back east to the Atlantic in Jacksonville and finishes with a celebratory ride‑in at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. It’s a sweeping, statewide journey that connects coastlines, communities and causes. Throughout the 15-day journey, the team spreads a message of acceptance and understanding to communities in Florida through newspapers, radio and television, civic groups and community leaders, reaching millions of people annually.
Where You’re Going — and Who You’re With
The finish line isn’t Tallahassee, it’s the beginning of something even greater. At the end of your ride, you’ll join the Pi Alpha Society: a brotherhood of more than 3,000 servant leaders who have taken this journey before you. These are men who lead with humility, impact their communities and succeed with purpose — in business, in service and in life.
Take the Next Step
You don’t need to be the strongest rider. You just need the heart to show up, the grit to keep going and the courage to be changed. If you’re looking for the most meaningful, challenging and unforgettable two weeks of your life — this is it. Learn more about what to expect, here.
Are you ready to take the ride? Schedule a call with a staff member or start your application today.
