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Braking For Minchah

Jewish tradition helps inspire Make-A-Wish cyclists.

Big Rapids, Michigan

W

eary that Friday following
the first leg of a three-day,
300-mile bicycle trek through
Michigan to benefit Make-A-Wish, Team
Alex quickly regrouped to mark Minchah,
the afternoon prayer service, and to recall the
stirring legacy of team inspiration Alexandra
Graham, who died at 17.
Alex — courageous, smart and car-
ing — loved athletics,
photography and music.
The daughter of Susie
and Bill Graham of West
Bloomfield, she died in
1999 after a 13-month
battle against bone cancer,
which caused a leg ampu-
tation and partial lung
Robert Sklar
loss. In the midst of great
Contributing Editor
pain, Alex proved it’s pos-
sible to inspire others.
Her wish was to create
a public service announcement encouraging
able-bodied kids to smile at other kids who
may appear different because of a medical
problem or physical limitation.
Make-A-Wish grants wishes to qualifying
children (affectionately Wish Heroes) with
First-year rider David Saperstein with Wish Hero Sophie Blumberg at the Heroes Hurrah
life-threatening medical conditions. Each
wish is something to anticipate and a chance Brandvain are all 18-year WAM rid-
PEDAL POWER
for families with a pediatric medical chal-
ers. Third-year rider Jay Levinson
Later, Jeff Surnow’s brother,
lenge to rally around.
of West Bloomfield led that day’s
Michael, a 15-year rider from
Team Alex, based in Oakland County, also Minchah minyan for those saying
West Bloomfield, talked about
now rides in memory of 12-year team mem- the Mourner’s Kaddish — an exam-
slowing down along the pictur-
ber Jeffrey Surnow. The West Bloomfield
ple of Team Alex “helping each other
esque WAM course and no longer
resident died last year at 63 as a result of a
as family,” as Davida put it.
approaching it as a race.
bicycling accident in Hawaii.
First-year rider David Saperstein
“Maybe I’m just 15 years older
Jeff Surnow
The can-do spirit of both Alex and Jeff
of Huntington Woods delivered the
and my body is beaten down by
invigorate Team Alex, collectively and indi-
drash, interpreting that week’s Torah portion, the passing years and by the vagaries of life
vidually.
Pinchas.
itself, which forces a new resolve,” he said.
“We learn that perhaps the legacy of
“I think it’s simply contentment — satis-
PRAYERFUL TIMES
Moses is one of political leadership and con-
fied to be out there, not caring about the
Under a late-afternoon sun in the courtyard
tinuity, a leadership that is not inherited at
time, feeling a glow from the warm smiles
of a Big Rapids motel on Friday, July 29,
birth, but is earned by merit — illustrated by of our Wish Heroes. Enjoying all that my
Team Alex, under longtime captain Beth
Joshua, Moses’ successor, having learned in
senses can upload makes me happy.”
Brandvain of Farmington Hills, gathered,
the tent of Moses,” Saperstein said.
Team Alex began in 1999 with 14 rid-
nearly 160 strong.
He asked teammates to “look around at
ers raising almost $46,000. The team is
The team has become more diverse over
each other.”
now the largest organized entrant in the
its 18 (chai) years, but
“Alex left us with a legacy that continues in WAM summer tour — from Traverse
remains largely Jewish. To the actions of all of us,” he said. “Perhaps as
City on Lake Michigan to Brooklyn, west
mark this chai year, the
we are riding this weekend, we can remem-
of Chelsea. Team Alex raised $387,000
team enhanced Jewish
ber her legacy, also recalling the legacy that
toward WAM’s 2016 yield of $2.31 million.
components over Make-
Jeff left — then contemplate what we can do Over 18 years, the team has raised about
A-Wish’s Wish-A-Mile
to improve our own legacy.”
$3.8 million, enough to help fulfill about
(WAM) course, including
Alex’s mother, Susie, said: “This ride is
400 wishes.
the Friday blessing of a
what Judaism is about. There is just no way
Team Alex not only sports wristbands
challah made by Davida
to fully express how grateful Bill and I are
with the names of Alex and its current
Team captain
Robinson of Franklin. She, to our loving community for keeping Alex’s
Wish Heroes, but string bracelets fash-
Beth Brandvain her husband, Warren, and
memory and legacy alive.”
ioned by Wish Hero Sophie Blumberg, 12,

From right: Michael Surnow with brother
Jeff’s son Max of Birmingham, a six-year
rider, and two other nephews, second-year
rider Gabe Scharg of West Bloomfield and
first-year rider Jordan Scharg of Denver.

18-year riders Warren and Davida Robinson

of Farmington Hills and her mom, Mindy.
Whether tackling the main 300-mile
course or the one-day, 50-mile varia-
tion, Team Alex capped WAM with a lap
around Michigan International Speedway.
There, Team Alex’s Wish Heroes served
up medals and hugs at the Heroes Hurrah.
Statewide, WAM drew 1,000 registrants.
Just before the finish, riders passed
the silent mile. Placards along the grass
remembered fallen Wish Heroes and WAM
ambassadors, including Alex Graham and
Jeff Surnow.
Reminiscing this chai year since losing
Alex, Susie Graham shared this pensive
thought with the JN: “Alex would have
been 35 this past May. I do wonder what
she might have been doing and how her
life might have turned out.
“But,” Susie added, “we really couldn’t
ask for a better steward of Alex’s life than
Team Alex.”

*

Alex Graham

In 2008, Three Dot
LLC of Northville
published When One
Door Closes: A Teen’s
Inspiring Journey and
Lasting Legacy by
Susie and Bill Graham,
with H. Thomas Saylor.

August 25 • 2016

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