2026 Transamerica Team

2026 TransAmerica Team & Family Information

Journey of Hope is an exciting and distinctive opportunity, and this year’s team is well-equipped for the journey ahead. This page contains an overview of this summer’s TransAmerica Route experience, including key dates, travel information and other helpful details for participants and their family members.

2026 TransAmerica Route

Follow the TransAmerica team on social media

TransAmerica Facebook Group
Journey of Hope photos

TransAmerica Route Dates and Details

Details for 2026 are being finalized. Please check back soon for updates.

Orientation offers a chance for team members to get acquainted, learn about people with disabilities and participate in skills assessments, training rides and safety training to prepare them for the life-changing events ahead.

Cyclist Travel Information

Cyclists on the TransAmerica team must arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for the Team Orientation no later than 2:00 p.m. PT on Friday, May 29. Anyone driving or arriving prior to May 29 will have two options. You can report directly to Camp Stand By Me in Vaughn, WA, by 3 p.m. or meet at Seattle airport by 2 p.m. on Friday, May 29.

Do not book your flight until routes are assigned and staff has instructed you to do so.

Crew Travel Information

All crew members must arrive at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) for Journey of Hope Crew Training no later than 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Monday, May 25. Transportation from SEA Airport will be provided.

Getting Your Bike To Orientation

All cyclists should bring their bikes on the plane as a checked bag. Check with the airline when booking your flight to confirm fees, but most major airlines charge a standard checked bag fee for bike boxes.

The bike should be packed in a cardboard bike box. Any team members using a hard-case bike box must ship it home. Contact your local bike shop for help packing your bike. They should be able to provide you with a box for free or pack it for a small cost. Here is a video of how to pack a cardboard bike box yourself. Write your name on the outside of the box to be able to identify it at orientation.

Journey of Hope TransAmerica Kickoff Dinner

The Ability Experience will host The Journey of Hope TransAmerica Kickoff Dinner on Tuesday, June 2. The dinner location has yet to be finalized.

Check back later to register for the Kickoff Dinner

Journey of Hope TransAmerica Kickoff

The Journey of Hope TransAmerica team will depart from the Mural Amphitheater at Seattle Center (305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 98109 — near the Space Needle) on Wednesday, June 3, for Enumclaw, WA, on their first day of cycling. The team will depart at 7:30 a.m. Please arrive at 7:00 a.m. to allow plenty of time for photos prior to the team’s Circle-Up and departure. No registration is necessary for the send-off.

Joining your Team Member for Orientation and Kickoff

Family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend the kickoff; however, any family or friends planning on coming to Seattle must understand that Orientation is for the team to prepare as a group for their time on the road. Availability to be with family during this time will be limited. Most family and friends take this time to see some of the different sites around Seattle. In fact, some team members and their families arrive early to sight-see.

If you have any questions about kickoff events, please contact us.

Hotel Accommodations

Team members will stay in Seattle on Tuesday, June 2. Team lodging details will be shared once confirmed.

The Ability Experience will provide team member accommodations. Family and friends are responsible for booking their own accommodations while in Seattle, but they are welcome to book a room at this hotel or any other hotel in the area.

If you have any questions about the kickoff events in Seattle, please contact Andrew Matznick.

Sites to See

Seattle is a wonderful place full of history and things to do. Remember, if you want to explore these sights with your family, you must do so before orientation; there will not be time during orientation. Below are some local attractions in Seattle and the surrounding areas:

  • Pike Place Market
  • Space Needle
  • Woodland Park Zoo
  • Waterfront Park
  • Seattle Great Wheel
  • Kerry Park

Family Visit Event in Denver

The Ability Experience is pleased to offer the family and friends of our team members the chance to experience life as a team member. Family and friends will get to see what the men have been doing by joining the team for events in Denver. There is free time set aside on one of the days for team members to spend time alone with their friends and family visiting. Learn more about visiting your team member in Denver. 

We also invite family and friends to our arrival celebration in Washington, D.C. 

Tuesday, June 30

12:30 p.m. – Arrival at Colorado Capitol Building (west side)

2 p.m. – Check in to hotel and free time

4 p.m. – Pedal for Pennies event at Denver City Park

11:45 p.m. – Team Curfew

Wednesday, July 1

8:30 a.m. – Breakfast with Mountaingate

10 a.m. – Free time

12 p.m. – Optional team lunch

10:30 p.m. – Team Curfew

Thursday, July 2

6:30 a.m. – Team circle-ups and team send-offs from lodging

Hotel Information

Both teams will be staying at Hyatt Centric Downtown Denver

Family and friends can book a room at this or any other nearby hotel in the area.

Rooms for all team members will be provided.

Arrival Information

Join us as Journey of Hope arrives at the U.S. Capitol and we celebrate their accomplishments! The arrival weekend is the culmination of a life-changing summer. Upon building hope for many individuals across the country, one cannot help but get caught up in the emotion surrounding such a special day.

Read on for additional information.

Arrival: Saturday, August 8, 2026, in Washington, D.C.

This year’s Journey of Hope Arrival weekend in Washington, D.C., is August 7-9, 2025, with the arrival at the United States Capitol taking place on Saturday, August 8.

Family and Friends Meet and Greet

Where: Grand Hyatt Washington, D.C.

When: Saturday, August 8

Time: 8:30-10 a.m.

This is a time for family and friends to come together ahead of the Arrival. Coffee and light breakfast items (i.e., donuts or similar) will be available. The Ability Experience staff will also be there to answer any questions you may have during this time. The group will depart for the Capitol together at 10 a.m.

This is included as part of your Arrival registration.

Journey of Hope Arrival

Where: West front lawn of the United States Capitol building

When: Saturday, August 8

Time: The teams will arrive promptly at 11 a.m., but the time is subject to change based on weather conditions.

IMPORTANT: Friends and family must arrive at the Capitol building by 10:30 a.m. It will most likely be very warm, so dress comfortably and bring water and sunscreen! Absolutely no alcohol is allowed at the Arrival event on Capitol grounds. Please stay off any structures and respect the Capitol grounds.

No registration required

The Ability Experience Celebration

Where: Grand Hyatt Washington, D.C.

When: Saturday, August 8

Time: Doors open at 4:30 p.m. with a program beginning at 5 p.m.

This event will highlight the teams who just finished their event while also celebrating The Ability Experience’s history. Displays will be set up around the room to showcase some of the special people, places and events in The Ability Experience’s history. The event will also be a meeting place for The Ability Experience family to reflect on their experiences. The Ability Experience has grown throughout the years and shaped many lives of people of all abilities, and we hope you will join us for the celebration!

This is included as part of your Arrival registration.

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available. Dress is business casual.

As the Journey of Hope routes are making their way across the country, team members may need that little extra push from you in the form of a care package to get them through some hard miles between now and Washington, D.C. Below, you will find the mail drops for the Journey of Hope teams. At the end of each address block, please remember to include “Attn: Journey of Hope (Team Member Name)” in order to ensure that the team member receives his package. Your mail/packages MUST arrive by the “Arrive by” dates listed below; there will be no forwarding of mail that has arrived after the deadlines. Please contact The Ability Experience office with any questions!

Dates and locations will be shared once confirmed.

2026 Journey of Hope Roster

The roster below reflects the complete Journey of Hope team. Routes have not yet been selected. Route assignments will be made in late March and finalized by April 1.

NAME POSITION CHAPTER (UNIVERSITY)
Joe Ademi Cyclist Chi (Stetson)
Oscar Baza-Cabrera Cyclist Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
Chris Brown Cyclist Beta Epsilon (Missouri-Columbia)
Chase Coleman Cyclist Alpha Theta (Michigan State)
Jack Coleman Cyclist Eta Tau (Kentucky)
Nick Colimon Cyclist Iota Iota (Cal Poly-Pomona)
Dain Crnojevic Cyclist Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
Colin Dang Cyclist Zeta Sigma (California-Davis)
Anthony DeGuzman Cyclist Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
Jacob Delatorre Cyclist Epsilon Nu (Cal State-Sacramento)
Saidou Diallo Cyclist Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
Asher Early Cyclist Kappa Sigma (Colorado-Colorado Springs)
Richard Escobar Cyclist Zeta Beta (California-San Diego)
James Ferrara Cyclist Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic)
Ronan Geoffrey Cyclist Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
Jack Gips Cyclist Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic)
Matias Gonzalez-Rappe Crew Theta Psi (RIT)
Isiah Greene Cyclist Iota Iota (Cal Poly-Pomona)
Kadin Hadzic Cyclist Delta Delta (Truman State)
Nabil Hamrang Cyclist Alpha Iota (Auburn)
Anthony Harey Cyclist Iota Iota (Cal Poly-Pomona)
Tavo Hernandez Cyclist Iota Iota (Cal Poly-Pomona)
Jackson Holmes Cyclist Theta Psi (RIT)
Pete Kelley Cyclist Alpha Iota (Auburn)
Rex Kilpatrick Cyclist Theta Phi (Louisiana Tech)
Jack Leitzke Cyclist Theta Delta (Florida International)
Joe LoPiccalo Crew Iota Rho (Western Illinois)
Skylar Ludazer Cyclist Eta Rho (Texas State)
Pedro Medrano Cyclist Zeta Beta (California-San Diego)
Kai Melville Crew Xi (Roanoke)
Tycho Narrod-Malcolm Cyclist Alpha Delta (Washington)
Carl Oscarson Cyclist Kappa Pi (Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo)
Will Pflueger Cyclist Delta Iota (Middle Tennessee)
Ryan Pirro Cyclist Omega (Purdue)
Nathan Pulling Cyclist Delta Delta (Truman State)
Danu Regalado Cyclist Iota Mu (Arkansas-Fort Smith)
Thatcher Rortvedt Cyclist Kappa Omega (Utah)
Trevor Ryan Cyclist Zeta Beta (California-San Diego)
Martin Salinas Crew Theta Omicron (Reno)
Dev Sewhuk Cyclist Theta Psi (RIT)
Derek Theys Cyclist Zeta Upsilon (Bloomsburg)
K.C. Thompson Cyclist Beta Omicron (Northwestern State)
Aidan Tobin Cyclist Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
Oscar Watstein Cyclist Alpha Tau (Rensselaer Polytechnic)
Sebastian Wedemeyer Cyclist Epsilon Iota (UNC-Greensboro)
Jude Welsch Cyclist Upsilon (Illinois-Urbana-Champaign)
Nathan Won Cyclist Alpha Lambda (Mississippi)
Gio Zaragoza Cyclist Eta Beta (Indiana State)
Ian Zimmerman Cyclist Theta Psi (RIT)