Capital Ride

Matthew Barackman, 21, son of Philip and Deborah Barackman of Newtown, arrived at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C., Sunday, August 12, completing a 3,750-mile bicycle ride that started in San Francisco, Calif., on June 10.

Matthew’s ride was part of the 2007 Journey of Hope event that raised $520,000 for the Push America nonprofit foundation for persons with disabilities.

The ride included many friendship visits at camps and other facilities along the way, during which Matthew and his northern route team of 25 cyclists put on puppet shows, played wheelchair basketball, and had numerous other opportunities to interact with disabled individuals of all ages and their families. Lodging and meals where supplied by hundreds of volunteers along the route.

Matthew is a senior cognitive science major at the University of California Berkeley, and member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.