Last year, I made a difficult but necessary decision to skip Bike4Chai. The opportunity presented itself to take a life-changing family trip with my father, daughter, sister and six family members to visit my father's birthplace - Slovakia. He was born in Slovakia in 1939, survived the Holocaust with his family, and then left in 1948. It was his first time in 70 years setting foot in mainland-Europe or his place of birth. The trip dates conflicted with Bike4Chai, and I felt jealous as I saw pictures and tracked friends who were riding. However, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip and it was more meaningful and powerful than I can describe.

But, it's 2019 and I am back!

This summer, I will have the opportunity to partake in a life-changing event: a 180-mile bike ride through New Jersey, the Pocono Mountains, and Upstate NY. This is no ordinary ride; it’s an exhilarating cycling event ending at Camp Simcha, a remarkable overnight camp that provides seriously ill children with a vacation from sickness, restoring their spirits and renewing their determination to fight.

Life for a child with cancer or other serious illness is grueling; Chai Lifeline’s flagship programs, Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha Special, offer 430 children a chance to forget about illness and just be kids again. Camp is an oasis of fun, of joy, and of peace for children experiencing dark and turbulent times. To learn more about Camp Simcha and Camp Simcha special, visit campsimcha.org.

This year’s ride is even more thrilling than past years’ rides: it’s a landmark ride, the 10th Bike4Chai! I will depart on the two-day ride of a lifetime to camp on Wednesday, August 14, 2019. My objective is to raise $5,000 by then, and I hope you will help me reach this goal. All donations are 100% tax-deductible.

Please contribute by clicking on the donate button now.

Thank you for supporting me and, in doing so, helping children and their families cope with the diagnosis, treatment, and aftermath of serious pediatric illness.

Best Regards,
Avi

PS. For more information regarding this ride please visit bike4chai.org