Miles For Smiles

Rick Nessel

Rick Nessel is shown in

Special to the Jewish News

2005 with his Wish Hero,
Aubrie Johnson of Wixom.

0

n Friday, July 28,
through Sunday, July
30, I rode more than
300 miles for the Make-A-Wish
Foundation of Michigan.
I cycled through 10 counties,
from Traverse City to Chelsea,
my fourth year as part of Team
WAMmer Jammers. Our group
has grown from only five mem-
bers four years ago to more than
50 members.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation
grants the wishes of children with
life-threatening medical condi-
tions. One of their fundraisers is
the Wish-A-Mile 300 Bicycle Tour,
which is celebrating its 19th year.
The Wish-A-Mile, or WAM, with
more than 600 riders in total,
raised $942,000 for the founda-
tion this year for Michigan chil-
dren. The ride was fully catered,
and has full volunteer, massage
therapy and medical support.
All meals and transportation to
Traverse City were provided.
Riders/teams are paired with a Wish
child, called a Wish Hero, to inspire us
during the ride. Team WAMmer Jammers
have been lucky enough to ride for Danielle
Mongrain the past two years and, in addi-
tion, I have also been riding for a personal
friend and Wish Hero, Aubrie Johnson
of Wixom. Her thoughts .and letters have
always been an inspiration to me.
Not only has our team grown 10-fold,
but we've come a long way in fundraising.

Months of training and a grueling
weekend pay off at the finish line.

Rick Nessel is an advertising executive with

Our team members raised approximately
$30,000 our first year and $112,000 this
year. I have become a Make-A-Wish WAM
300 Circle of Excellence Gold Member,
raising more than $25,000 for the founda-
tion.
Team WAMmer Jammers asked for
donations from friends, relatives and

coworkers. In addition, every year we
hold a large silent auction/party at the
Beechview Swim Club in Farmington
Hills. Sponsors such as the Jewish News
and other companies in the area have
helped support our team and the cause.
With a new route from Traverse City to
Chelsea and some unusually hot weather,

A Challenge

"That amount translates into
making wishes come true for
10 children with serious, life-
threatening medical conditions,"
said Team Alex captain Beth
Brandvain of Farmington Hills.
Both teams were part of the July
27-30 Wish-A-Mile 300 Bicycle Tour.
With her team rarely overtaken in
fundraising donations, Brandvain said,
"About six years ago [Alex's dad], Bill
[Graham of West Bloomfield], who is a
member of Team Alex, issued a chal-
lenge, inviting another team to beat
us." So, Brandvain joked, "Team Alex

The tale of two teams.

'Shell' Liebman Dorfman

Staff Writer

B

Dorothy Barak of West Bloomfield and

Warren Robinson of Franklin

36

August 24 • 2006

we had more than we bargained
for but nothing could keep us
down as we pedaled our 300
miles, up hills, through extreme
heat, wind and rain, all in the
name of wishes.
Riders spend weeks and
months training for this gruel-
ing ride, with the commitment
and understanding of their
families. Waking up at 5 a.m. on
Saturdays and/or Sundays, going
out late at night for a ride on
weekdays and spending hours
fundraising are just some of the
things our families help us with.
We may be the riders, but our
families really provide tremen-
dous support along the way.
They understand it's all about
that little smile we get at the
end of the ride from our Wish
Heroes, friends and family mem-
bers — that makes it all worth
it! To know you've made a dif-
ference in the life of a child is a
great feeling.
Wish-A-Mile is a great event,
and it is very important in pro-
viding hope, strength and joy to Michigan
kids. E

ike riders on Team WAMmer
Jammers may have brought in
$112,000 in donations for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan
this year, but Team Alex members are
more than proud of the $81,000 they
raised.

the Jewish News.

For more information, contact Sheila
Steger at Make-A-Wish Foundation
of Michigan in Ann Arbor:
ssteger@wishmich.org . Or visit the
Web site at www.wishmich.org .

takes full credit for motivating the
WAMmer Jammers and so many oth-
ers to step up the fundraising efforts."
But that's OK with WAMmer
Jammers member Rick Nesse!,
who said the "fierce, but all-in-fun
rivalry to beat each other out in dol-
lars raised" has paid off. The team
concept has turned into a way of
pushing team members in a fun, com-
petitive way to raise more dollars.
He said, "It's a friendly competition
and Beth Brandvain is the best at
not only motivating her team, but

A Challenge on page 37