metro
Friendship Circle Walk Join The Parade
Adaptive bikes give Beaumont kids that
beloved childhood experience.
Richard Keidan
Special to the Jewish News
W
F
riendship Circle's 2014
Walk4Friendship, which takes
place Labor Day weekend
on Sunday, Aug. 31, announced that
icon and former news anchor Diana
Lewis will again emcee and lead this
year's event. Charlie Langton of WWJ
Newsradio 950 will also host.
Featured entertain-
ment includes the
nationally acclaimed
Champions Forever,
who were featured
on the hit show
America's Got Talent.
Champions Forever, a
Diana Lewis
family of 12 who per-
form basketball tricks
while on unicycles, will perform from
2:30-3:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield.
The 2014 Walk4Friendship is expect-
ed to draw thousands as has been the
case in years passed and the goal is to
raise more than $600,000. The festivi-
ties get started at 12:30 p.m. with open-
ing ceremonies at Friendship Circle
(6892 W. Maple between Drake and
Halsted), followed by a simultaneous
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5K and 1-mile walk, which begin on
the Friendship Circle grounds at 1 p.m.
Participants in the 5K and the walk
return to the Jewish Community Center
(northwest corner of Maple and Drake)
at 1:30 p.m. That's when attendees will
be able to sample food and get involved
with some of the day's events.
Admission is free but donations are
welcome. Some of the day's events
include: face painting by Astute Artistry,
painting classes, kids' crafts by Home
Depot, make your own slime project,
inflatable zipline and team semi-truck
pull competition plus much more.
"We invite everyone to join us
for a free, family-fun event that cel-
ebrates friendship and inclusion:' said
Bassie Shemtov, executive director of
Friendship Circle.
Thousands of area families and
hundreds of Southeastern Michigan
schools utilize the services of
Friendship Circle and have come to
count on this wonderful oasis in helping
their children with special needs lead
better and more fulfilling lives. Go to
Walk4Friendship.com to register and
for more information.
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12 August 14 • 2014
ho doesn't remember their
first bike? Mine was a red
Schwinn Tiger. I was no
different than most other children — I
loved my bike and used it on a regular
basis, but I took it for granted.
On July 11 at Beaumont Children's
Hospital, about 100 children received
their first bike, but I guarantee you none
of them took it for granted.
All of these children have special
needs that prohibit them from having a
"normal" bike from a bicycle shop or big
box store. In fact, these custom adap-
tive bikes cost an average of $1,700 and
many are more than $4,000.
Bike Day could only be described as
"inspiring" The children each came
with their families while vendors and
therapists made final adjustments to
their new bikes. Their smiles were
amazing. They took their bikes into the
parking lot under supervision and went
for their first spin.
These bikes not only allow these
children to experience one of the joys
of childhood and build self-esteem, but
will also allow them to participate in
family and social activities as well as be
integrated into their physical therapy.
Three children with cerebral palsy
live in a group home in Detroit and
they received their first bike thanks to a
generous grant from Ronald McDonald
House Charities. When one girl met
Kelly Donaldson, board member of
Ronald McDonald House Charities, she
exclaimed, "It's a miracle!" and gave
Donaldson a big hug. Another recipient
from last year won two gold medals at
the Special Olympics.
This year marks 10 years of Bike
Day. The Beaumont Children's Hospital
program continues to grow from 22
recipients in 2004 to 101 in 2014. Since
its inception, 547 bikes have been given
to families across Southeast Michigan
at a cost of $774,518. This is the third
year Detroit2Nepal has supported this
program
The annual fundraiser, Miles4Alex,
is at the Birmingham Bike Festival Aug.
24. Festival founder Jeff Surnow always
says, "It's all about the kids"
Join the bike parade at 12:20 p.m.
along a half-mile course in downtown
Birmingham. Participants will include
children on their new custom adaptive
bikes, children from pediatric oncology
and children from the community.
Dr. Richard Keidan checks out Justin's
new bike.
Isabel looks happy on her new bike.
After the bike parade, all children
are welcome at the Rock Companies/
Beaumont Children's Fair from 1-4 p.m.
on Martin Street behind the Surnow
Building.
Individuals and teams of children
and/or adults can sign up to raise funds
and participate in the bike parade on
Crowdrise.com/miles4alex. Donations
can also be made at Detroit2Nepal.org ,
or checks can be mailed to D2N, 2035
Bayou, West Bloomfield, MI 48323. D2N
is a registered nonprofit organization and
all contributions are tax-deductible.
❑
Richard Keidan, M.D., is founder and director,
D2N:Detroit2Nepal Foundation.