Family Focus 300-Mile Bike Trek Aids Kids 11 11 [ 11111111 ri _rvzA AL, 1:1 JtoN. itoitsf: Warren Robinson and his Team Alex "Iron Horse" award for riding all 3,000 miles over 10 years Warren Robinson Special to the Jewish News I is not about the bike says Tour de France seven-time champion Lance Armstrong. And in my case, it is not about the bike ride. Recently, I completed the Wish-A- Mile (WAM) three-day, 300-mile bicycle ride from Traverse City to Chelsea with 800 other riders. This July 25-27 bike ride is the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan's largest annual fundraising event. I am a proud (founding) member of Oakland County-based Team Alex, an eclectic group of family, friends and acquaintances who like to ride and who, in many cases, knew Alex Graham, a West Bloomfield teenager who passed away at age 17 almost 10 years ago. The team, which includes many Jewish members, was formed to honor her memory. Alex was a Make-A-Wish wish recipient. Alex's memory continues to inspire our team to challenge other riding groups to raise significant funds for Make-A-Wish. The Wammer Jammers, another local group, also has a Jewish presence. Many WAM riders focus on the actual three days and the preparation that went C28 August 21 • 2008 iN Team Alex rider Dori Leib of Farmington Hills with Make-A-Wish Hero Nate Koomen, 9 into them: months of training, grueling hills, inclement weather, 9- to 10-hour rides, soreness, injuries, etc. This should be expected and there is nothing wrong with that. I would be lying if I said I did not think about that stuff. I choose to focus however, on the oppor- tunities that the ride and the Foundation create. The Make-A-Wish Foundation provides chronically and terminally ill children and their families with the means to fulfill their wishes. These can come in many forms: a trip to Disney World in Orlando, playing hockey with a Detroit Red Wings player, getting a computer or going on a shopping spree at the mall, just to name a few. Moreover, I see the ride as an opportu- nity to really help our community, both the Jewish community in Metro Detroit and our fellow Michiganders throughout the state. The ride has given me and others an opportunity to tangibly perform tikkun olam, by repair of the world, one child at a time. We do this by serving as a conduit for the community's beneficence. It is an indescribable "feel good" experience knowing that you have been touched by the warmth of the community and are passing that on to a precious child. Fundraising is the hard work. The ride is really just a reward for the May-to-July legwork. Every rider or team is paired with one or more Wish Heroes. Over the last few years, Team Alex riders have formed a special bond with two amazing Wish Kids and their families; Nate Koomen, 9, of Zeeland and Lily Upp, 11, of Berkley. Their strength, determination, encouragement and beautiful smiles are a source of inspi- ration during the ride and all year long. Our relationship with Lily is a special bonus we received when her Uncle Earl (Bogrow) of Huntington Woods joined Team Alex. Last year during the weekend of the ride, Lily was having lung surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. This year was a different story! Lily is now finished with her treatments at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak and she, along with her mom, Sue, and her Aunt Julie, were there with our team at a very touching awards ceremony on Saturday night, July 25. By the end of the program, the only thing bigger than the pile of sunflowers that all of us had deposited in her lap was the huge smile on Lily's face. The Upp family and the Koomens were also at the finish line to greet us when we finished the ride. No matter how exhaust- ed I may feel at the end of the three-day, 300-miler, ending the ride in the presence of the very children who inspire us, along with Alex's parents, Susie and Bill Graham of West Bloomfield, is an exhilarating experience. This was actually my 10th year riding the WAM for Team Alex. I was honored with the Iron Horse award for never miss- ing a mile — 3,000 in total — in all those years. I hope that by sharing my experience, I will encourage other riders and volunteers to join this event that raises money for such a great organization and to know that anyone who participates will be forever affected by the remarkable opportunity. El Warren Robinson is a Franklin resident. Wish Hero Lily Upp, 11 The WAM took in $1.6 million. Team Alex brought in the most money for Make-A- Wish Foundation of Michigan: $193,000. The Wammer Jammers, the second-highest fundraiser, raised $136,000. For informa- tion about Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan: wwwwishmich.org.