Journey of Hope cyclists visit Tesh in Coeur d'Alene

The sound of cheers, cake plates and a group version of “Happy Birthday” greeted the Journey of Hope cyclists when The Ability Experience team rolled into Tesh in Coeur d’Alene, bringing 17 riders and 23 support members into direct contact with one of North Idaho’s key disability-service providers.

The stop was more than a mid-ride break. Journey of Hope is a 70-day cross-country cycling trip that begins in Seattle or San Francisco and ends in Washington, D.C., with Friendship Visits built into the route to connect riders with organizations that support people with disabilities. The program, run by The Ability Experience, says its broader goal is to raise funds and awareness while developing Pi Kappa Phi members into servant leaders.

At Tesh, the visit underscored how those kinds of partnerships can matter in a county where access to community experiences is not always equal. Tesh CEO Marcee Hartzell called the cyclists’ stop a favorite event because it brings the outside community directly to clients who may not have easy access to those kinds of interactions.

The visit carried a personal note for Damien Standefer, one of Tesh’s clients, who celebrated his birthday during the gathering. The group marked the occasion with cake and a round of singing, turning a planned stop into a small community celebration.

The Ability Experience also presented Tesh with a $500 grant, one of 10 grants awarded nationwide based on riders’ voting about the places they visited the year before. The donation tied the one-day visit to a broader pattern of support that reaches beyond applause and handshakes.

For Tesh, the moment fit into a larger milestone year. The nonprofit says it is celebrating 50 years of service in Kootenai County in 2026, with a 50th-anniversary celebration set for July 21 at Settlers Creek in Coeur d’Alene. Tesh describes itself as a community-based nonprofit dedicated to helping children and adults with developmental disabilities build greater independence, self-sufficiency and participation in community life.

Journey of Hope itself reflects a similar message: inclusion works best when it is repeated, visible and local. A single stop cannot solve the gaps in access for adults with disabilities, but visits like this one, paired with grants and long-term partnerships, can help keep those connections active in Kootenai County.