Wheels of Love 2023

As a point of true beshert, Meori’s family was connected to ALYN Hospital in a special way – Meori’s father, Hovav, had been participating in the Wheels of Love bike ride, raising funds for ALYN Hospital, since 2005. For Hovav, ALYN was already a place he considered his second home. Combining bike riding with the mitzvah of tzedakah is something he looks forward to year after year. So, without thinking twice, he contacted Dr. Maurit Beeri, Director General of ALYN Hospital, and asked if Meori could be admitted there for the duration of his rehabilitation process, to which Dr. Beeri agreed. In Hovav’s words: “To us, it was clear we were going home.” See the whole story…

Etai shares, as is typical of a boy his age, that he is happy that he does not have to go to school, but later in the conversation admits that the thought of being able to return to the classroom with his friends motivates him to continue rehabilitation and invest every day despite the difficulties and pain. “Knowing that I’ll be joining my friends later makes me optimistic. I work as hard I can. It’s not fun that I still cannot be one of the gang in the simple way I used to be. Friends do come to visit when possible, but it’s not the same as meeting in the morning, going to school and then meeting up again in the afternoon.” See the whole story…

Germana Basso is a volunteer at ALYN Hospital. At 22-years-old, she has completed her service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and will soon be entering medical school at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Another piece of her life story is that she spent much of her first six years of life receiving rehabilitation at ALYN Hospital. See the whole story…

We know that for many of you, the thought of asking friends for money to fundraise for the ride is uncomfortable and might be uncharted territory. Don’t worry – fundraising is much easier and more rewarding than you might expect, especially when you are raising money for such an incredible cause. ALYN Hospital is such a unique and special place, that once you share with others about the hospital and the children receiving rehabilitation there, people will be willing to support you. How do we know? We have over 20 years of experience and thousands of riders who have successfully raised money for ALYN as proof.

Remember, the people who will sponsor you will do so because of your relationship with them. They are YOUR friends and YOUR family! They trust what you have to say. The more personal you can make the request, the better. Start by personalizing your fundraising page. You can login to your page and personalize the text and upload a special picture of yourself. Once you have your page set up the way you like it, send the link with an email to your contacts. You can post it on Facebook or other social media. Again, the more personal you can make the request, the more likely you are to receive a favorable response. Remember the four basic rules:

1. Aim high. Set an ambitious fundraising goal for yourself. The minimum you need to raise is between $4,000 and $5,500, but we hope you will aim for more. If you can ride for four days straight, up and down hills, through all types of weather, you can certainly go the extra mile for the children of ALYN. Over 50% of riders raise over $6,000. That’s a great goal.
2. Make a personal donation. Lead by example. To convince others to make a contribution, it helps to show that you are equally committed to the cause. Your registration fee helps pay for the ride logistics; donations are sent directly to the hospital.
3. Ask friends and family. It’s easiest to start with those closest to you. Once you convey your excitement about participating in Wheels of Love and they learn about ALYN, they will be happy to support you. Suggest an amount with which they would be comfortable.
4. Expand your asking circle. If you think beyond closest family and friends, there are endless possibilities: neighbors, work colleagues and business associates, acquaintances from school, college, synagogue/church, the health club and your biking club. If you work for a company with a matching gifts program, you may be able to multiply the effect of your gift. A basic rule of fundraising is that the main reason people give is because they have been asked by someone they know and trust. That someone is you!

Click here or on picture to hear Barry & Jill’s tips

Home: Efrat, Israel Years Riding Wheels of Love: 9 Lifetime Fundraising: $42,212 Click here or on picture to hear Jay’s tips

Home: Alon Shevut, Israel Years Riding Wheels of Love: 11 Lifetime Fundraising: $32,827 Click here or on picture to hear Rocky’s tips

Home: Chicago, IL  USA Years Riding Wheels of Love: 21 Lifetime Fundraising: $139,370 Click here or on picture to hear Robert’s tips

Home: Plainview, NY  USA Years Riding Wheels of Love: 13 Lifetime Fundraising: $274,338 Click here or on picture to hear Steven’s tips