Collegiate Times

Correction: This story has been modified from its original version. — The team is known as the VTV Cycling Team. The Collegiate Times regrets this error.

The recently formed VTV Cycling Team will host its first annual cycling event in Blacksburg Saturday at 8 a.m.

All proceeds from the event will go to the VTV Family Outreach Foundation, a non-profit organization created after the April 16, 2007, shootings at Tech. 

The foundation strives to improve safety at campuses around the country and provide the victims’ families with support and relief.

The event is open to all and costs $100 to enter. Then entrance fee includes a team jersey, a one-year team membership and a lunch. The payment is tax deductible and treated as a non-profit donation.

The event will have two cycling courses: a 100-mile course and a 32-mile course, for less advanced bicyclists. The 100-mile group will depart from the Inn at Virginia Tech at 8 a.m. and will return to have lunch with the 32-mile group. 

Following the lunch, the entire group will complete the final 32 miles together and finish at the Drillfield.

Tommy Fadoul and Omar Samaha, cousins, formed the VTV Cycling Team in February in Northern Virginia. They created the team based on their close connection to the VTV Foundation.

Samaha’s sister, Reema, was one of the victims of the April 16 shootings. His father sits on the board for the VTV Foundation to ensure that such a tragedy won’t happen again. 

“Foundation is family,” Samaha said. “It is made up of people who want to create positive changes for the wellbeing of
campuses.” 

Fadoul got Samaha involved in cycling about two years ago. Since then, the two have developed a deep passion for the sport and observed the impact cycling teams have had around Northern Virginia.

Fadoul and Samaha, from their observations and mutual interest, developed the VTV Cycling Team, a perfect blend of their passions for cycling and the VTV Foundation.

“We came up with the idea of turning a passion of ours, cycling, into a social change,” Fadoul said.

The purpose of starting the team was to support the VTV Foundation through marketing and fundraising.

The goal for this year’s event is to raise awareness about the VTV Foundation and to create a close-knit group of people who will want to return next year. 

Fadoul and Samaha are also interested in expanding their team. The only existing chapter is in Northern Virginia, but they have ambitions to expand by starting new chapters in various cities around the country.

Currently, chapters are being formed in Richmond and San Diego. Ideally, the cousins would like to see a chapter started in Blacksburg — a goal they hope to accomplish through this event.

“We want to expand membership to the point where we can really generate a buzz,” Fadoul said.

Though cycling competitively and generating interest are personal visionary goals, the cousins affirm the primary goal of this event is to support the VTV Foundation and create a strong community of people interested and involved in the cause.

“Having these events promotes good relationships around campuses, which also plays into campus safety and security,” Samaha said.

Bikers of all levels are encouraged to participate in the event. 

Registration remains open. Those interested in participating in the event can register online at VTVFoundation.wsiefusion.net. 

A version of this article appeared in the Apr 28 issue of the Collegiate Times.