Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.– It’s not often you have children who wish to ride their bikes across America, but for Bich Ngoc Nguyen and her husband Hung Pham, they have not just one, but two children who have it in their minds to complete this goal. Their daughter Hannah Pham, completed the trek back in the summer of 2014, alongside her boyfriend Anthony Bui, and his sister Aileen. Now Nguyen & Pham’s youngest son Quantin, 21, wants to follow in his sister’s footsteps by joining the Journey of Hope Tour, which will take him across the U.S. to also raise money for charity.
Quantin Pham, 21, is training to be a part of the Journey of Hope bike tour across the U.S. (Photo: Thuy Phan/Nguoi Viet)
“I’m involved with an organization called Pi Kappa Phi, which is a fraternity on my campus,” Quantin said. “Every year we do this bike ride called “Journey of Hope” and we do it with about 90 guys across the country. We leave from Seattle, San Francisco or Long Beach, so in each group there will be 30 guys.”
Pham is currently studying Kinesiology at the California State University, Long Beach. This ride will benefit The Ability Experience in locations across the country. The organization focuses on helping those with disabilities. In order to qualify, Pham must raise a total of $5,000 to earn a spot on the team. If he doesn’t meet that goal, he will still be able to participate but not be a part of the official team riding.
“On average, we are looking at riding 50-80 miles per day, some days more than others,” Quantin said. “It’s a lot of preparation of riding daily, and keeping up with the workload at school. I try to fit in as long of rides as I can and emulating what I’ll be doing in the summer.”
Quantin’s sister, Hannah Pham (right), rode her bike cross country alongside her boyfriend Anthony Bui (middle) and his sister Aileen Pham (left) in 2014. (Photo: Courtesy Hannah Pham)
For his sister Hannah, who completed the trek after training for four months prior, it was a once in a lifetime experience.
“Since we had never done this before, we had to do all the research, figure out how we were going to do this,” Hannah said. “We bought our own bikes – touring bikes– meant to travel and be sturdy and carry our food, clothes and packs. It also included tents, sleeping bags and other tools we would need. Our bikes helped us carry 50 pounds of weight. We decided on the Trans America Trail from Oregon to Virginia, and it’s the most cycled route in America and was established in 1976.”
The California-based trio raised awareness and a total of $15,300 for the Kevin Armstrong MD Memorial Sports Foundation, which helps low-income students in the Santa Ana Unified School District.
Siblings Quantin Pham and Hannah Pham are avid bikers and help support each other in their endeavors. (Photo: Thuy Phan)
“I found that I had determination that I didn’t know that I had,” Hannah said. “Mentally I think that’s the hardest thing but I feel like I am stronger than I thought.”
For Quantin, he said he hopes to be able to grow from this experience and help organizations working with people with disabilities.
“It was definitely not an easy decision to give up two months of my life to bike across the country – which would seem crazy to most– but I felt this was a once in a lifetime experience that I couldn’t pass up,” Pham said. “I think this will be a very self gratifying experience. Not only to better myself physically but mentally as well.”
The Journey of Hope Tour will begin in June. To find out more about Quantin’s progress and help him be a part of the team, click here: support.abilityexperience.org/goto/quantinpham.
—
To contact the writer: [email protected]
