Riding, Israeli-Style
Reminders of our presence in Israel
and the amazing things done at Alyn
were beautifully integrated into the
Wheels of Love experience. Riders
received a bike tag with the traveler's
prayer and a photo of an Alyn child to
attach to their handlebars. That tag,
along with a yellow "bring Gilad Shalit
home" ribbon (referring to the kid-
napped Israeli soldier held prisoner by
Hamas in Gaza since 2006) tied right
next to it, really helped me keep things
in perspective.
Wheels of Love is also the only ride
I have done with a minyan available
three times a day.
And then there were the kids. After
the first exhausting day of riding in
the Ramon Crater, we all perked up
at the chance to meet Ariel Yered and
his parents. When Ariel was just 15
months old, he was severely wounded
by a Palestinian-fired shell in Gush
Katif (Gaza).
After undergoing several life-
saving surgeries at Soroka Hospital
in Beersheva, he was transferred to
Alyn. Many people, including his doc-
tors, felt there was little hope he would
recover. Shrapnel hit a large portion
of his brain causing significant brain
damage. The hope was that with
intensive therapy, other parts of his
brain would take over the functioning
of the damaged sections. Ariel is one
of many "Alyn miracles." Today, he is
a happy, independent, rambunctious
young boy. With a passion for soccer,
he was thrilled when a rider gave him
a soccer ball signed by several mem-
bers of a big time European team.

What It's All About

On the final day, our friend and
corporate sponsor Joel Jacob of the
Bottle Crew in West Bloomfield joined
the ride as part of a large group par-
ticipating in Galgal Echad, a one-day
option. Temperatures were danger-
ously high that day, forcing organizers
to end the ride after the lunch break.
All riders had to be bussed to the clos-
ing ceremonies at Alyn.
Riding up through the Judean Hills
into Jerusalem is a special experience
that every participant fears, but also
looks forward to. Needless to say, not
being able to make this physical and
spiritual ascent was a huge disap-
pointment.
For the kids at Alyn, or others with
a life not quite as blessed or charmed
as mine, everyday can bring challeng-
es, struggles and let-downs far greater
than a shortened bike ride. With this

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Warren and Davida Robinson and Joel

Jacob pause at a lunch stop in the

Jerusalem Forest on the way to Alyn.

in mind, we proudly walked through
the entrance to Alyn. Even without our
bicycles, we were greeted as heroes!
The closing ceremony was beautiful
with many emotional moments. We
sang "Hatikvah" while the sun was set-
ting over Jerusalem. The musical per-
formance by Koral, a young lady who
lost one leg to cancer, was an amazing
affirmation of the significance of
dedicating time, energy and myself to
others through organizations like the
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan
and Alyn. Koral had received intensive
therapy at Alyn. She moved the crowd
to tears when she sang a beautiful
self-composed song about her journey
of strength, courage, disappointment
and victory.
Thirteen years ago, another teen-
age girl used her sense of sensitivity
and creativity to deliver a similar
message. Also having lost a leg to
cancer, Alex Graham, whose parents,
Susie and Bill, live in West Bloomfield,
produced and appeared in a public
service announcement reminding us
of the difficulties and challenges that
she and so many others faced every
day. Alex died at age 17 in 1999. Her
beautiful message of optimism, hope
and "try a smile, we could use it" has
motivated and inspired me, the Team
Alex cycling community and our
thousands of supporters to do good
deeds in Alex's memory, including rid-
ing for Alyn's children. [i]

Beth Brandvain is a Farmington Hills

resident and captain of Team Alex.

To make a donation to Wheels
of Love, go to: www.wolusa.org .
Click on "Team Alex," then click
on "General Team Donation,"
or mail a check to: American
Friends of Alyn Hospital, 51 E.
42nd St., Suite 308, New York,
NY 10017.

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