Won’t You Help Me Make a Child Smile?

October 19, 2018
Great Neck, NY

Dear Friends,

In just a few short days, I will be leaving for Israel to ride my butt off (again) – this time for an amazing charity that I have supported for twelve years.  It’s the ALYN Children’s Hospital in Jerusalem, Israel and the ride is called the International Wheels of Love.

Once again, my wife Joanne and I – Team Blyecycles – will travel to Israel and join 350 other riders from over a dozen countries to ride for five days across the Negev, up and down staggering rock formations, and climb from the Dead Sea (the lowest place on Earth) to Jerusalem where the Children of ALYN greet us with open grateful arms. When they strain against their disabilities to put medals on the riders, there isn’t a dry eye in the house.

This is my 12th year doing this ride and it has helped to change my outlook on life. ALYN helps children with birth defects, war trauma or injuries from car accidents. They are non-denominational and help all children regardless of religion.

Most importantly, Joanne and I self-fund all of our expenses for this trip so that every dollar you donate goes directly to the hospital.

Won’t you please consider making a donation to this amazing cause.

You can click here to find out Why I Ride and to support me. Or copy and paste this link: http://www.wolusa.org/goto/jeffblye

I am so deeply grateful for your support – and OF COURSE, YES – I will be blogging and posting photos about the journey.  Come along with me to Israel.  

To all of my generous supporters – past, present and future – I thank you so very very much.
…Jeff
Wheels of Love Challenge Rider
2007-2018

Please enjoy these amazing pictures from previous Wheels of Love rides.

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Team Blyecycles 2016 – Jeff, Joanne, Samantha and Matt
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Opening day in the Negev
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Climbing up the steep cliffs of the Makhtesh.
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Conquering the switchbacks.
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Looking back on what we had just climbed.
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Every year, my goal is simple: stay ahead of the sweep bus!
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Typical desert vista.
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Morning yoga at sunrise on the the Makhtesh.
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I could stare at this picture all day.
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Rest stop in the desert on one of our century rides. Joanne likes when I say, “My wife stops traffic.” And, she does.
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Meet Erez Cohen, our most amazing Challenge Ride Leader.
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Erez Cohen, just showing off …
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Erez Cohen, really showing off. How on earth does he do that?
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You really can’t get lost in Israel. If you’ve hit a border fence, you’ve gone too far.
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Oops, caught in the act.
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About to climb the tortuous Ma’ale Akrabbim (“Scorpion’s Ascent”) – the steepest road in all of Israel.
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Alpe D’Huez is nothing compared to this.
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Ma’ale Akrabbim … from near the top down.
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Ma’ale Akrabbim … still have some climbing to do.
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Descending down to 1,400 feet BELOW sea level, it’s always good mark this spot.
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Floating in the Dead Sea.
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On the climb back up to Jerusalem, we stop for some “camel-ing” around.
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Never a dry eye in the house when a disabled child puts a medal around your neck.
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My two amazing kids.

 

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