Six Pi Kappa Phi brothers pedaled to the steps of the Capitol building Saturday to put a two-month cross-country charity bike ride to a close.

After traveling across 32 states and a total of over 12,000 miles, 97 fraternity brothers from across the nation concluded their Journey of Hope – a program organized to aid individuals with physical and mental disabilities – on Saturday. Push America, the group sponsoring the ride, was founded by a Pi Kapp brother in 1977.

Junior Adam Cella said fraternity brothers who participated in the event last year inspired him to join the cause. This year’s batch of bikers raised a total of $570,000.

“I had fraternity brothers that had done it who are role models for me,” Cella said. “It ended up being the best thing I’ve ever done.”

The brothers began the bike ride – the 24th in Journey of Hope history – in San Francisco and Seattle on June 12 and biked an average of 75 miles daily. Bikers split into three teams – north, south and trans-America, and stopped to spend afternoons with disabled people during various activities and events.

Dylan Wong, a sophomore, said he was inspired by previous program participants while he was rushing Pi Kapp.

“It was definitely one of my most memorable experiences,” Wong said. “One of the best parts was I met a kid, Ta, with muscular dystrophy and we went bowling.”